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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
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n 


n 


n 


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Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagie 

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TN 
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Thi 
poi 
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the 
sioi 
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firs 
sioi 
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beg 
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10X  14X  18X  22X 


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aox 


24X 


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de  ie  nettetA  dti  reKemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  ev«/3  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmege. 

Lea  axemplaires  origlnaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
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origlneux  sent  fiimis  en  commen^ent  per  le 
premiire  pege  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'Impresslon  ou  d'lllustretion  et  en  terminent  par 
la  darnlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 

Un  des  symboles  solvents  apparaltre  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
ces:  le  symbols  — »>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

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Lorsque  ie  document  est  trop  grend  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seui  ciich*.  il  est  film*  i  pertir 
de  I'engle  supArieur  gauche,  de  geuche  A  droite. 
et  de  heut  en  bes.  en  prenant  la  nombra 
d'imagas  nAcessoire.  Les  diogrammes  solvents 
illustrent  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  6  6 


MI 


ESOLU' 


m  T] 


REMARKS 


^J/^ 


OF 


MR.  SEMPLE.  OF  ILLINOIS, 


•  W    THE 


ESOiUTION  INTRODUCED  BY  HIM  RELATIVE  TO  THE  OCCU 
PATION  OP  THE  OREGON  TERRITORY. 


MMVKREU 


IN  TlIE  SENATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  JANUAR 


y  «8,  1844. 


WASHINGTON: 
PRINTED  BY  BLAIR  AND  RIVEi. 

1844. 


V\ud 


7  ^  ^    '^  f 


REMARKS. 


\ 


On  the  8th  of  January,  1844,  Mr.  Semple  introduced  the  following  Reso- 
lution :  ^  ♦ 

"  Retolved,  That  the  PresiJcnt  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  give  notice  to  the  British 
Government  that  it  i«  the  desire  of  the  Governmrnt  of  the  United  States  to  annul  and  abrogate 
the  provisions  of  the  Third  Article  of  the  Convention  concluded  between  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  of  America  and  His  Britannic  Mnjestj  the  King  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
britain  and  Ireland,  on  the  20th  of  Octol>er,  18 IS,  and  indefinitely  continued  by  the  Conventioa 
between  the  same  parties,  signed  at  London,  the  6th  of  August,  1827." 

On  the  25th  of  January,  the  resolution  was  called  up  for  consideration, 
when  Mr.  Archer,  of  Virginia,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign 
Relations,  moved  to  have  it  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Foreign 
Relations.  . 

Mr.  SEMPLE  said— 

Mr.  President  :  I  did  not  suppose,  after  the  delay  which  has  already 
attended  the  consideration  of  the  resolution  which  I  had  the  honor  to  in- 
troduce, that  there  would  be  any  desire  for  a  further  postponement.  I  had, 
at  first,  no  disposition  to  urge  a  hasty  decision  of  the  question,  and  there- 
fore, with  great  pleasure,  yielded  to  the  suggestion  of  my  friends  to  give 
time  for  reflection.  I  was  fully  aware  that  it  was  a  question  of  great 
importance,  and  I  myself  wished  that  every  Senator  should  have  ample 
lime  to  examine^  the  subject  in  ail  its  bearings.  I  think  suflicient  time 
lias  been  given,  and  I  cannot  consent  to  a  longer  delay. 

The  object  of  a  reference  to  a  committee  is  generally  for  the  purpose 
of  inquiry  and  examination,  with  a  view  to  prepare  auti  digest  a  compli- 
cated subject  for  the  action  of  the  Senate.  If  such  inquiry  and  examina- 
tion were  necessary  in  this  case,  I  should  have  no  objection  to  a  reference ; 
but  so  far  from  this,  it  has  been  avowed  by  the  honorable  Senator  from 
Virginia  [Mr.  Archku]  that  the  object  of  the  rcCerence  is  delay.  He 
does  not  wish  to  talce  any  step  whatever  in  relation  to  this  subject,  until 
after  we  have  seen  the  result  of  negotiations  which,  he  informs  us,  are  in 
prospect.  He  is  not  willing  to  intcrl'e'rc  with  the  Prcsitl^'tit  in  these  nego- 
tiations. 

Now,  sir,  in  the  first  place,  I  do  not  believe  that  tlie  passage  of  this 
resolution  will  have  any  injurious  effect  upon  any  negotiation  whir  li  may 


lake  place  between  ^he  two  coiintrieH.  The  very  fact  of  commencing  a 
negotiation  presiipiiofje.s  that  tlie  parties  are  not  satisfied  with  existing 
treaties.  Can  there  he  anything  diHrespectriil  to  inform  a  friendly  nation 
that  we  are  not  satisfied  with  an  existing  treaty,  and  pro|>ose  to  make  a 
new  one  ?  Certainly  not.  This  is  the  first  step  in  making  all  treaties 
whatever.  The  resolution  nnder  consideration  is  nothing  more  than  this. 
AVhcn  we  shall  have  given  notice  Ihat  we  desire  to  terminate  the  present 
treaty,  we  are  then  hetter  prepared  to  make  or  to  rereivi^  proposititms  for 
a  new  one. 

In  the  present  state  of  the  case,  the  British  Government  is  well  enough 
siitisiied  with  the  present  treaty  :  we  are  not.  Can  any  one  su])|)ose 
that,  while  the  treaty  with  which  the  British  Government  is  satisfied 
exists,  there  is  the  least  jjrospect  that  a  new  one  will  he  made  ?  He  who 
supi)oses  so  cannot  he  well  acquainted  with  the  chai'ucter  of  the  British 
Government.  But  if  we  abrogate  this  treaty,  and  take  exclusive  pos- 
session of  the  territory,  then  there  will  be  some  inducement  for  both 
parties  to  come  to  some  understanding.  But  how  is  it  |iossible  that  there 
can  be  any  disrespect  shown  by  giving  the  notice,  and  abrogating  this 
treaty  ?  The  treaty  itself  provides  for  its  own  dissolution;  the  British 
Government  has  already  agreed  that  wc  may  abrogate  it  whenever  we 
please.  How,  then,  can  the  Senator  from  Virginia  suppose  for  a  moment 
that  wc  can  give  offence,  or  he  looked  on  as  standing  in  a  hostile  attitude, 
by  doing  that  wiiich  we  have  a  right  to  do  by  solemn  compact — by  the 
treaty  itself?  But,  sir,  the  Senator  from  Virginia  is  opposed  to  inter- 
fering with  the  President  in  any  new  negotiations  which  may  he  in  pros- 
jjcct.  My  opinion  is  Just  tli.^  reverse  :  1  ;'.m  in  favor  of  expressing  an 
opinion  in  advance.  1  wisli  to  indicate  now  to  the  President  that  we 
cannot  agree  to  any  treaty  which  shall  provide  for  a  joint  occupaticm,  or 
which  shall  allow  any  other  nation  to  have  any  jurisdiction  or  control 
whatever  over  the  soil  of  the  Or.'gon.  Are  we  to  sit  here  wftii  our  arms 
folded,  a»id  wait  mitil  a  treaty  is  made,  and  then  reji  ct  it  ?  Have  we 
no  power,  or  no  right,  to  afirisc  the  President  what  course,  in  ouropinion, 
should  he  pursued  ?  1  think  this  is  the  host  mode  of  treating  on  any  suli- 
ject.  The  President  himself  should  ask  the  advice  of  tiie  Senate  before 
a  treaty  is  concluded.  Tiie  Senate  .sIkhjUI  advise  first,  and  after  it  is 
signed,  then  consent  to  the  treaty.  Jidvice  and  consent  arc?  both  necessj^ry 
on  the  part  of  the  Striate.  In  this  case,  I  am  not  sure  that  our  advice  is, 
or  will  he,  obligatory  on  the  President.  He  may  or  may  not  give  the 
lioiice,  even  should  this  resolution  ])ass;  hut  it  will  be  a  strong  indication,, 
and  will  scarcely  he  entiiely  neglected  hy  the  President.*  AVe  have  the 
right,  ho\\ever,  to  act  on  the  suhject,  whether  our  action  is  regar<Ied  or 
disregarded.  We  have  recently,  1  think,  entertained  a  similar  resolution — 
I  mean  that  introduced  by  the  honorahle  Senator  from  Ohio  [Mr.  AiiLKN] — 
and  I  am  persuaded  that  if  that  resolution  had  hecn  iti  Executive  session, 
it  would  have  passed  the  Senate.  I  have  another  reason  for  passing  this 
resolution.  I  have  not  the  most  unlimited  confidence  in  negotiati<nis,  as 
the  hest  mode  of  securing  our  rights;  we  have  fre(|uently  been  outra- 
geously cheated  in  negotiations.  We  have  surrendered  our  territ(n*y  by 
negotiations  in  the  Southwest  and  in  the  West,  with  regard  to  (Hir  line 
■with  Mexico.  All  the  country  watered  hy  the  Rio  del  Norte  was  ours 
befui-e  we  surrendered  it;  and  the  thirty-fourth  degree  of  North  lutitudt 


imencing  a 
itii  existing 
nilly  nation 
^  to  make  a 
nil  treaties 
c  tlian  this, 
the  present 
usitions  for 

veil  enough 
ne  suppose 
iN  Hati.sfied 
P  He  who 
the  Uritish 
lusive  pos- 
jt  for  both 
c  that  there 
gating  thiii 
the  British 
henever  we 
r  a  moment 
ilc  attitude, 
act — by  the 
led  to  inter- 
be  in  pros- 
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nt  that  we 
upalion,  or 
I  or  control 

I  our  arms 
Have  we 

»ur  opinion^ 
)n  any  suJi- 

II  ate  before 
after  it  is 

necessary 
advice  is, 
ot  give  the 
indication,. 
Iiave  the 
'gar<Ied  or 
solution — 
Allen] — 
vc  session, 
[issing  thin 
iations,  ao 
;on  outra- 
rritory  by 
i)  our  Hue 
'.  was  oufH 
:h  lutitudt 


! 


to  the  Pacific  ocean  sliould  have  Ih'ou  our  lioundary  Mith  Mexico.  We 
have  Hurrei»derc<l  lerritory  in  tin;  Northeast,  and  in  the  North,  to  Great 
Britain  ;  and,  sir,  I  want  lo  soc  no  more  siuirndiMTd.  b'or  t!iis  irason  [ 
am  a  little  afraid  of  tici;otiatio>is,  and  1  am  not  willing  to  let  any  other 
go  on  to  a  final  terniinution  \vitln)nt  first  giving  some  ojiinimi  as  to  what 
sliould  he  done,  or,  in  other  \v(M'(Is,  ndvii^}  i:^  tlu^  l*rosiiient  what  to  do. 

Had  the  honorable  Senator  from  Virginia  [Mr.  An{  iir.u]  not  made  this 
motion  to  ivfcr  the  resolution,  wilh  llie  avowed  ohjiut  of  delay,  I  should 
not  have  said  anything  on  the  subject  ;  and  it  is  not  my  intention  at  jire- 
scnt  to  «)ccin»y  the  time  of  tlio  Senate  longer  than  will  he  necessary  merely 
to  explain  the  reasons  which  indin  ed  me  to  introduce  the  resolution  now 
uruler  consideration. 

It  is  well  known  to  every  Senator  present,  that  the  occupation  of  the 
Oregon  Territory  has.  for  some  time  past,  engaged  the  attention  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States  generally,  but  more  particularly  the  people  of 
the  Western  States.  The  peojjle  of  the, State  which  I  have  the  honor,  in 
jiart,  to  represent  on  this  lioor,  has  taken  a  very  decided  stand  in  favor  of 
the  immediate  occupation  of  the  Oregon.  If  1  aig  not  mistaken,  the  lirst 
public  mcdin^  of  the  people  held  lo  ex|)ress  a  formal  opinion  on  this  sub- 
ject, was  held  in  the  city  of  Alton,  in  that  State.*  This  was  followed  by 
several  otiiers,  in  Illinois  anil  the  adjoining  States.  During  the  last 
winter,  a  meeting  of  more  than  fifteen  hundred  persons  was  held  in  the 
State-House  at  J^pringfteld,  composed  of  members  of  the  Legislature,  and 
others,  from  every  part  of  tlie  State  of  Illinois,  when  this  (piestioii  was 
;  most  fully  discussed,  and  strong  resolutions,  expressive  of  the  wish  of  the 
people  of  that  State,  wore  passed. (  At  several  of  these  meetings  I  had 
the  honor  of  addressing  my  fellow-citizens,  and  giving  my  views  of  the 
propriety  of  the  orgaui/ation  of  a  Territorial  Government  west  of  the 
mountains,  and  of  taking  such  steps  as  would  effectually  exclude  all  other 
<  Governments  from  exercising  any  Jurisdiction  over  the  soil  admitted  by 
all  to  be  the  undoubted  pri>|)erty  of  the  United  States.  During  the  past 
summer,  the  pcojile  of  the  Western  Stales  were  invited  to  meet  in  conven- 
tion at  Cincinnati,  ill  the  State  of  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  ibis 
subject  into  consideration,  and  to  adopt  such  measures  as  wduld  appear 
best  calculated  to  secure  the  rights  of  this  country,  and  expedite  the  set- 
tlement of  the  Oregon.  A  very  large  pm'tion  «)f  the  wlnde  Western  coun- 
try was  rcpresente»l  in  this  convention  ;  a  much  larger  portion  than  could 
^  have  been  iniluced  to  send  delegates  to  a  convention  on  any  common  or 

ordinary  occasion. 
I  The  convention  was  composed  of  men  of  the  very  first  political  stand- 
]  ing  in  the  »'est,  without  regard  to  party  divisions  of  any  kind  ;  all  of 
both  political  parties  joining  most  zealously  in  their  endeavors  to  pro- 
mote the  object  lor  which  the  convention  was  called — the  immediate 
occupation  of  the  Oregon.  The.convention  declared,  in  the  most  unequi- 
vocal terms,  that  they  Would  *•  protest  and  continue  io  protest  against  any 
act  or  negotiations,  jiast,  in  progie-js,  or  hereafter  to  be  perfected,  whicli 
j  8hall  yield  possession  of  any  portion  of  the  said  Territory  to  any  foreign 
i  power,''  but  more  particularly  against  the  possessicm  by  Gi'cat  Britain. 
i  The  language  of  that  coiiventimi  was  firm  and  determined,  and  1  believe 
I  it  8  the  opinion  of  nearly  every  man  west  of  the  Alleghanies4 

•  Sec  Nolo  A,  pugc  8.  f  Sec  Note  B,  page  9.  i  See  Note  C,  page  18. 


histoi 
irictk 
doma 


•lercii 
The  people  of  the  West  have  not  contented  themselves  with  expressing  about 
opinions — they  have  acted.    For  many  years  our  citizens  have  gone  into  ^vill  n( 
the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  for  the  purpose  of  hunting,  trap-  the  nc 

5 ling,  and  trading  with  the  Indians.  They  have  also  more  recently  gone  States 
or  the  purpose  of  malcing  permanent  settlements.  During  the  last  year  Tlif 
more  than  a  thousand  brave  and  hardy  pioneers  set  out  from  Independence,  |)ccasi 
in  Missouri,  and*  overcoming  all  obstacles,  have  arrived  safe  in  the  iongci 
Oregon.  Thus  the  first  attempt  to  cross  the  extensive  prairies  and  high  -were 
moimtains  which  intervene  between  the  settlements  in  the  States  and  the  idence 
Pacific  ocean  has  been  completely  successful.  The  prairie  wilderness  and  Michi 
the  snowy  mountains,  which  have  heretofore  been  deemed  impassable,  .Terri 
which  were  to  constitute,  in  the  opinion  of  some,  an  impenetrable  barrier  relati 
to  tjie  further  progress  of  emigration  to  the  West,  is  already  overcome,  it  woi 
The  same  bf)ld  and  daring  spirits,  whose  intrepidity  has  heretofore  over-  dispu 
come  the  Western  wilderness  in  the  midst  of  dangers,  can  never  be  »ohe  c 
checked  in  their  march  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  During  the  next  the  di 
summer  I  believe  thousands  will  follow.  Extensive  preparfitions  are  now  umpii 
making  for  a  general  move  towards  that  country.  The  complete  success  pertit 
of  those  who  have  first  gone  will  encourage  others ;  and  as  the  road  is  yield 
now  marked  out,  I  do  not  think  I  am  at  all  extravagant  when  I  suppose  only 
that  ten  thousand  emigrants  will  go  to  Oregon  next  summer,  in  the  <  I  b 
meantime,  what  course  sitall  the  Government  pursue?  to  th 

The  indications  of  public  opinion  thus  everywhere  expressed,  and  the 
apparent  determination  to  emigrate,  I  am  sure  cannot  he  disregarded  by 
this  Senate.  For  one,  I  am  sure  that  I  cannot  discharge  the  duty  I  owe 
♦o  r.y  constituents  without  using  every  exertion  in  my  power  to  effect  the  j  quest 
t  they  have  so  much  at  heart.  1  cannot  compromise,  I  cannot  yield  ;  shall 
*,ii.  part  of  the  Oregon  Territory.  I  cannot  agree  to  wait  for  negotia-  j  ,  it 
tions.  I  cannot  agree  that  there  is  sufficient  doubt  as  to  our  title  to  admit  |  doub 
that  it  is  a  subject  proper  for  serious  dispute.  1  that 

The  joint  occupation  of  the  country  never  ought  to  have  been  a  subject*  and  1 
of  negotiation.     Our  Government  committed  a  great  error,  in  my  opinion,  .^  pass* 
when  the  treaty  of  1818  was  made  ;   and  a  still  greater  error  when  that     that 
treaty  was  indefinitely  prolonged.     It  is,  however,  not  beyond  a  remedy,     and 
The  treaty  was  made  on  the  supposition  that  it  might  become  necessary 
to  abrogate  that  part  providing  for  a  joint  occupation,  and  a  plain  and 
easy  mode  was  pointed  out  in  tlie  treaty  itself.     This  was  for  either  party ; 
to  give  notice  of  a  desire  to  abrogate  that  part  of  the  treaty.     This,  sir,, 
is  the  object  of  the  resolution  which  I  have  had  the  honor  to  introduce. 

This  thing  of  a  joint  occupation  of  a  country,  and  of  a  joint  jurisdiction  f 
by  two  independent  Governments,  is  an  anomaly  in  the  history  of  thC; 
world.  I  do  not  now  remember  anything  like  it,  either  among  ancient  or 
modern  Governments.  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  has  often  happened  that| 
two  nations  may  have  been  at  the  same  time  in  possession  of  the  samc| 
country;  but  I  think  that  in  all  such  cases  they  have  both  contended  foi| 
exclusive  jurisdiction,  and  the  joint  possession  has  generally  been  hostile,  4 
and  one  or  the  other  has  been  compelled  by  force  to  yield.  I  rememberj 
that  there  was  once  a  joint  and  concurrent  jurisdiction  over  a  strip  oil 
country  between  Keiitucky  and  Tennessee;  I  am  not  sure  that  there  ever| 
>vas  in  that  case  an  agreement  for  the  joint  occupation  ;  I  am  inclined  t«l 
think  there  never  was  <in  agreement,  but  that  both  States  claimed  and  I 


will 

Eng 

the( 

occu 

1 

am  I 

the  I 

that 

The 

Th€ 

trea 

our 

will 

mai 


I 


th  expressing 
Ave  gone  into 
lunting.  trap- 
recentty  gone 
the  last  year 
ndependence, 
safe  in   the 
ries  and  high 
itatcs  and  the 
Idei'ness  and 
d  impassable, 
trablc  barrier 
Jy  ovcrcoine. 
•ctofore  over- 
:^an  never  be 
'ing  the  next 
tions  are  now 
iplete  success 
as  tlic  road  is 
hen  I  suppose 
mer.     In  the - 

issed,  and  the  < 
isregarded  by  - 
le  duty  I  owe  • 
^r  to  effect  the  | 
[  cannot  yield  | 
i  for  ncgotia-^ 
'  title  to  admit  1 

)cen  a  subjects 
n  my  opinion,/ 
'or  when  that 
ind  a  remedy, 
ine  necessary 
I  a  plain  and 
•  either  party 
r.     This,  sir, . 
introduce, 
it  jurisdiction ' 
listory  of  the. 
ng  ancient  or 
appencd  ihatj 

of  tlie  sameJ 
ontcnded  foi^j 
been  hostile,! 

I  rememberl 
i^er  a  strip  oil 
at  there  ever  I 
n  inclined  t(i| 
claimed  an(l| 


exercised  jurisdiction  over  the  country  until  the  question  was  settled 
about  the  year  1819.  The  Senator  from  Kentucky  [Mr.  Crittenden] 
l^ill  no  doubt  remember  this  dispute.  I  think  he  was  probably  one  of 
the  negotiators  of  the  ultimate  settlement  of  the  line  between  the  two 
States.  • 

The  joint  occupation  which  I  have  just  mentioned  was  on  several 
occasions  near  producing  great  difficulties,  even  when  both  States  be- 
longed to  one  General  Government,  and  when  the  people  of  both  States 
were  friends  and  neighbors,  and  possessed  of  the  highest  degree  of  pru> 
llence  and  forbearance.  The  difficulties  between  the  States  of  Ohio  and 
Michigan,  and  that  still  more  recent  between  the  State  of  Missouri  and 
iTerritory  of  Iowa,  will  show  how  tenacious  Governments  always  are  in 
relation  to  boundaries.  These  difficulties  happened  between  States,  when 
;it  would  seem  really  to  be  a  matter  of  no  great  consequence  whether  the 
disputed  territory  belonged  to  the  one  or  the  other,  as  both  belonged  to 
'one  common  country.  It  is  a  matter  of  more  serious  consequence  when 
tlie  disputed  territory  lies  between  two  rival  powers,  having  no  common 
umpire  to  determine  the  dispute.  Nations  generally  adhere  with  greater 
pertinacity  to  a  claim  of  territory  than  to  any  other  species  of  right,  and 
yield  it  with  greater  reluctance;  scarcely  ever  without  appealing  to  the 
only  umpire  between  nations — tlie  ti'ial  by  battle. 

I  believe,  sir,  that  the  recent  surrender  of  a  part  of  the  State  of  Maine 
to  the  British  Government  is  probably  the  only  instance  recorded  in 
history  where  a  great  and  powerful  nation,  with  a  full  and  complete  con- 
viction of  its  right  to  the  soil,  has  tamely  surrendered  a  part  of  its 
domain  from  fear  of  war.  That  was  a  question  of  limits  ;  this  also  is  a 
question  of  limits.  Wc  have  surrendered  a  part  of  the  State  of  Maine ; 
shall  wc  also  surrender  a  part  of  the  Oregon  ? 

It  was  after  the  treaty  of  1842,  that  wc  of  the  West  began  to  have 
doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  treating  on  this  subject.  It  was  after  this 
that  we  began  to  doubt  the  efficacy  of  negotiations  to  maintain  our  rights ; 
and  for  this  reason  we  have  passed  the  strong  resolutions  which  have  been 
passed  in  the  West,  expressing  a  determination  not  to  abide  by  any  treaty 
that  shall  surrender  any  part  of  the  Oregon.  Our  people  will  go  there, 
and  they  will  not  submit  to  British  domination.  If  the  Governnieni  here 
will  not  protect  them,  they  will  protect  themselves ;  and  all  the  power  of 
England  will  never  be  able  to  dislodge,  from  the  mountain-fastnesses  of 
the  Columbia  river,  the  hardy  Western  riHcinen,  who  will  in  a  few  years 
occupy  that  delightful  country. 

1  will  not,  Mr.  Pi'csident,  add  any  thing  more  to  what  I  have  said ;  I 
am  not  certain  that  there  will  be  any  serious  opposition  to  the  adoption  of 
the  resolution.  I  hope  most  sincerely  that  there  may  be  none.  I  believe 
that  a  similar  resolution  will  be  adopted  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 
The  President  cannot  disregard  tliese  expressions  of  the  will  of  the  Nation. 
The  notice  will  be  given ;  in  twelve  months  we  will  be  free  from  any 
treaty  stipulations ;  we  can  then  extend  our  laws  and  Government  over 
our  people  who  have  gone  and  will  go  there;  and,  in  a  few  years,  you 
will  see  what  is  now  a  wildnerncss,  the  most  delightful  residence  of 
man. 


8 

[NOTE  A.] 


rmigra 
genera 

will  be 
is  then 
giniii 
huti  no 
bwiini 
cniiili'i 
of  Ills 
wliicli 
be  I'liji 
nc88 ;  I 


OREfiON— PTIULIC  MEKTINO. 

In  paraniince  of  a  public  notice  |.  cviousiy  given,  n  meetini^  of  (he  cilizcnn  of  Alton  was  Iield  ;ii 
(he  Court  Konm,  on  Tuesiiny  evening,  Novrniber  8,  It^VJi,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  ocnt- 
pancy  of  tl#  ()rej;on  Territory  into  considcrulion.  Colonel  N.  DiicKMASTKn  wub  culled  to  (hr 
•hair,  and  J.  E.  SpAun  was  chnsc-u  Secrotary. 

General  J.  Seni'li:  niaiit^  amotion  to  appoint  a  ooinmittoo  to  draft  resolutioiiH  cxpr«rttsivo  of  Uir 
nenKc  of  this  inertinR;  which  motion  wan  approved  ;  and  Miid  c«niinitlce  waH  ordered  to  considtol 
General ./.  Srmfifr,  Sir.Jrssr  Ifcn/n;  Mr.  .V.  If.  Jiu/ihinn,  and  jMr.  S.  S.  fii-fwi-H.  The  commit- 
tee having  retired,  returned  and  preHontcd  the  following : 

Renolvetl,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  the  occupation  of  the  Oregon  Territory  in  of  •""'  I"** 
▼a«t  importance  to  the  vviiole  I'r.ion,  iiut  more  cipcriuliy  (o  the  Western  HlutCH.  *''•  " 

tii'Holved,  That  we  will,  by  every  mcaoH  in  our  power,  encoiirugc  cMiigriition  to  that  country,  *''"'  '" 

and  U8e  our  influence  with  our  Delegation  in  Congrei^s  to  have  it  occupied  by  the  Government  of  *''"  ^^" 

the  United  States.  ihouijhi 

Renolved,  That  wc  will  never  give  our  consent  to  gurrendcr  any  part  of  that  Territory  lying  P'S"  »" 

between  the  Russian  and  Mexican  boundaiics,  to  atiy  Nation,  for  any  coii-iileration  whatever.  ''^\*'  ^^^ 

Jfesoh'cil,  That  tluH  sentiment  Hhou'd  bo  o.\[)rcss((l  hct'ort;  any  f'liillier  ni^olialion  tokca  place,  Jiosuig 

so  H8  to  prevejit  any  steps  being  taken  that  will  for  a  moment  wmken  the  clitiin  which  we  have  URft^'^t' 

to  that  tifho/e  country.     With  this  view,  we  invite  the  attention  of  the  peii|ile  of  the  United  Staten,  favor  of 
the  LegiRlatures  of  tlie  several  JStafes,  and  especially  tho.se  of  the  States  of  Mis^souri  and  Arkansua, 
and  the  Territory  of  Iowa,  whoso  boundaries  approiul'  more  nc;ir  than  any  otliers  to  the  Oregon 

Territory,  and  whose  frontiers  arc  more  iminediaicly  exposed  to  any  deprcdalionhi  which  the  /^''«f«^>  I 

Indians  may  be  induced  to  connnit.  *' 

RrKolvtil,  That  we  view  the  conclusion  of  a  Treaty  with  Enfiland,  without  settling  our  west- 
ern boundary,  as  wholly  overlooking  the  Wef^tern  interests,  while  a  nner  opportunity  than  will, 
in  all  probability,  ever  again  be  ofVered,  presented  itself,  to  require  and  obtain  a  complete  rulin- 
quishment  of  all  the  British  cluim  to  the  Territory  in  dispute. 

The  object  of  the  resolutions  having  been  commented  upon  and  explained,  they  were  unani- 
mously adopted. 

^  A  motion  that  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  signed  by  the  Chairman  and  Secretary,  ami 
published  in  the  city  papers,  was  approved. 

Motion  to  adjourn  prevailed.  •  N.  HUCKMASTER,  Chairman. 

J.  E.  Starr,  Secretary. 


Semple 
war,  an 
the  limi 
found  li{ 
\ersy,  a 
v/nr  t'ci 
ex  plana! 
whole  o 
ill  laying 
one  acri 
refusal. 


1 


Upon  presenting  the  Resolutions,  Mr.  Semplk  offered  the  following  remarks  : 

He  was  in  favor  of  the  resolutions.     He  was  glad  to  see  a  movement  made  among  the  people, 
on  the  subject  of  the  occupation  of  the  Oregftn.     We  were  much  indebted  to  tlio  patriotic  exer- 
tions of  several  members  of  Con;:rress,  in  relation  to  this  matter ;  and  probably  to  none  more  than 
to  his  much  esteemed  personal  friend  Dr.  Linn,  of  Missouri.     He  said  that  he  had  been,  for  thn 
■  iaat  four  or  five  years,  placed  in  a.  situation  whore  it  became  his  duty,  as  well  as  inclination,  to 
atudy  the  commercial  interest  of  the  United  Slates.     He  had,  during  that  time,  made  himself 
acquainted  with  the  importance  to  us  of  the  vast  trade  of  the  Pacific,  ocean,  and  of  the  immense 
wealth  that  would  flow  into  cur  country  by  means  of  the  occupation  of  the  Oregon  Territory. 
The  rich  furs  of  the  Northwest  were  alone  a  source  of  great  wealth.     Add  to  this  the  tropical 
productions  of  the  western  coast  of  Mexico  and  central  America,  the  pearls  and  gold  of  Panama 
and  Choco,  the  inexhau.stiblc  mineral  and  other  productions  of  Peru  and  Chili,  on  the  western 
coast  of  South  America,  which  would  be  brought  within  our  limits  through  the  Oregon.     All 
\    these  would  only  be  a  part  of  the  wealth  to  be  gained  by  having  a  population  and  sea-ports  on  the 
Pacific.     The  great  trade  of  the  East  Indies,  which  has  been  for  so  many  years  of  such  great 
importance  to  every  commercial  nation,  would  be  brought  within  a  short  distance  of  our  borders. 
It  is  not  very  probable  that  East  India  goods  will  ever  be  carried  by  land  from  the  Oregon  to 
New  York  or  Boston.     It  will  probably  be  always  cheaper  for  those  cities  to  import  them  by  sea 
around  the  capes.     But  we,  in  the  centre  of  the  Continent,  are  very  differently  situated.     The 
difference  in  the  distance  to  the  Pacific  and  the  Atlantic  is  but  trifling.     With  the  same  facilities 
for  transportation,  we  can  bring  goods  from  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  as  cheap  as  from  Boston 
or  New  York.     We  have,  then,  in  our  favor  a  distance  of  nearly  fifteen  thousand  miles  of  sea 
navigation.     The  beneficial  effects  of  this  advantage  would  soon  be  felt  as  far  as  the  bamlu  of   p^id  t1\e 
the  Mississippi  and  Ohio.     But  suppose  xoe  do  not,  the  future  inhabitants  of  Oregon  will  reap      '  Ji:sQ 
these  advantt^cs.    And  who  will  they  be  ?    Our  friendsi^relations,  and  countrymen,  who  may 


At  a  1 
notice,  i 
ieltlcme 
CJiiled  to 

(Jn  111 
luiioiis  I 

Tiie  < 
nor .]/«( 
C'limfi/jc 

Al'u'r 
until  W 

Wcdi 

Mr.  1 
|ng  lesc 

.,  liestji 
duc=i|ia! 
tpe  disr 
Mid  resi 

BBciit  "'• 


I 


Alton  was  held  ai 
(nkiriK  the  ocrir 
WitK  cuHcd  to  thr 

'  cxpntHaivoof  Uir 
Inrcd  to  conflidt  ol 
■#.    The  comniit- 

r>n  Territory  is  of 

I  to  that  country, 
\c  f  Jovornmcnt  of 

»l  Territory  lying 
iun  u'liutovcr. 
iitiuii  takcH  phicc, 
M  which  we  have 
lIic  United  StateH, 
iri  und  ArkanHUH, 
•r.s  to  the  Oregon 
ilioiis  which  titc 

H-ttling  our  wcst- 
rtunily  than  will, 
a  complete  ruHn- 

they  were  unani- 

id  Secretary,  and 
R,  Chairman. 


ffmigrat«  to  thoM  delightful  regioni.  Every  State  that  is  occupied  by  our  people  will  add  to  the 
general  prosperity.  They  will  bo  neighbors  and  Triends  and  countrymen.  Those  who  enii$;rato 
will  be  as  much  at  home  on  the  shorcH  of  the  Pacific  U8  on  the  banks  of  the  .MiMxiifsippi.  Who 
is  tliore  here  that  has  not  come  from  some  other  State  ?  Ho  who  has  lelt  Massachusetts,  \'ir- 
giiiia,  or  CJrorjjirt,  to  settle  in  Illinoii<,  feels  hiiiiself  as  iii'ch  in  liis  own  native  country  as  if  ho 
had  never  n  iiidv.  I.  The  same  nali  iii:!l  fi'i-liii'^  sti'l  exi>t'».  Hi*  iiiiT  not  expatriated;  h"  h'^n  not 
bvvorii  allegiance  "o  any  ol!nr  Govt..  .  iit ;  In-  is  ^t!ll  i  i  tlu>  riiiicil  .States,  unJer  the  s  .me  !a">s, 
cnlilU'd  to  llie  ^alnc  priUcclion,  am;  ^roud  of  the  same  star.*  and  ^tl■il)cs  that  waved  over  (iio  >.'.  co 
of  hi.s  birth.  It  would  lie  the  same  witli  him  on  tlsc  shires  of  lac  Pacil'.c.  The  a('.^.i.;(..;83 
which  liuvi!  been  enumirated  would  be  enjojtd  |iy  us,  if  we  c'lidn'c  to  ^o  there,  and  u.j.l  . ;;!! 
be  enjoyed  by  us  lirre  in  the  persons  of  liio.se  who  do  gd.  Tlnir  liaintiness  would  he  our  iut^  ,'i- 
ness  ;  tlieir  pro.'^perity  would  be  our  prosperity  ;  und  their  wealth  would  add  to  the  general  wealth 
and  power  of  tiie  nation. 

Mr.  SShMPLi;  said  that  he  regretted  exceedingly  that  the  western  boundary  had  not  been  set- 
tled in  the  late  treaty  of  limits  with  England.  IIo  con.'^idercd  the  rii;ht  of  the  United  States  to 
the  wliole  of  Oregon,  a^^  far  north  as  the  Russian  boundary,  as  clear  as  the  noon-day  sun.  He 
thought  that  the  right  of  the  State  of  Maine  to  all  that  she  claimed  equally  as  clear.  But  a  for- 
eign nation  laid  claim  to  a  part  of  that  territory  without  any  shadow  of  right  whatever.  Vet,  wo 
have  seen  the  special  agent  of  that  nation  refusing  even  to  discuss  tlic  question  of  right ;  and  pro- 
jtosing,  for  the  sake  of  pcaa;  to  divide  the  country  in  dis|)ute,  and  we  have  seen  that  proposition 
agreed  to  by  tiic  Executive  and  Senate  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  S.  said  he  was  as  much  in 
favor  of  fieace  as  he  thought  any  citi/.cn  of  the  United  States  ought  to  be.  13uf,  for  himself,  he 
would  have  preferred  xfar  before  he  would  have  yielded  one  inch  of  the  territory  claimed  by  the 
State  of  iMaine.  It  is  possible,  before  a  long  time,  th  rn  will  be  a  |)ri)popition,  for  the  sake  of 
peace,  to  divide  the  Oregon  with  the  British.  Will  the  \\  r--'  ever  allow  it  ?  God  forbid  !  Mr. 
I^emple  paid  that  if  ever  we  were  obliged  to  have  war,  he  w.nited  to  have  as  many  good  causes  of 
war,  and  as  many  parts  of  tlie  country  interested  in  it  as  prxsible.  If  we  hail  gone  to  war  about 
the  limits  of  Maine,  we  of  the  West  would  have  been  erinally  intcrc.Med,  and  would  have  been 
found  lighting  together.  But  we  have  divided  the  question  ;  we  have  settled  the  Maine  contro- 
versy, and  left  ours  unsettled.  Will  Maine  and  Massachusetts  now  have  the  same  interest  in  a 
war  til  lie  Oregon,  as  if  tlieir  own  boundary  were  at  stake]  Mr.  Semplc  here  went  into  an 
explanation  of  what  he  considered  to  be  the  foundation  of  the  right  of  the  United  States  to  tlio 
whole  of  the  Oregon,  as  far  as  tlw  Russian  boundary,  and  the  frivolous  pretences  of  the  British 
ill  laying  claim  to  any  part  of  it.  He  concluded  by  hoping  that  the  West  would  never  give  up 
one  acre  of  that  country,  though  war,  and  repeated  wars,  might  be  the  consequence  of  suclj 
refusal. 


I 


[NOTE  B.] 
Or.EGOX  MSETIXG. 


nong  the  people, 

patriotic  cxer- 

none  more  than 

lad  been,  for  the 

18  inclination,  to 

e,  made  himself 

of  the  immense 

regon  Territory. 

this  the  tropical 

gold  of  Panama 

on  the  western 

ic  Oregon.     All 

sea-ports  on  the 

rs  of  such  great 

of  our  borders. 

the  Oregon  to 

ort  them  by  sea 

situated.     The 

c  same  facilities 

OS  from  Boston 

nd  miles  of  sea 

as  the  banks  of 

Oregon  will  reap 

men,  who  may 


At  a  public  meeting  held  on  the  evening  of  the  5lh  of  February,  184.3,  in  pursuance  of  public 
notice,  in  ilie  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  to  take  into  cuiisideiation  the  subject  of  the 
•eltleniont  and  occupation  of  the  Territory  of  Oregon,  the  Honoiable  JtssK  B.  Tiio.maii  was 
Ciiiled  to  the  Chair,  and  Nkwtox  Clolmi  wa.s  appointed  tieerctary. 

On  motion  of  .Mr.  TrumbuU,  a  cominitlee  of  «iiic  was  appoiuled  to  prepare  and  report  reso- 
lutions expressive  of  the  sense  of  tiie  iiie;;liiig. 

Tile  Chair  appointed  the  following  gentlemen  said  coniinittee,  viz:  Liimau  Trumbull,  Gover- 
nor ,Muori',  .Major  JIackv'ton,  I),  L.  Gri\L-;ii,Jiilui  J)cjiic;'/r'r'!/,  Jl'illiuin  II.  Jiavidisun,  Thompson 
CtimfiijcU,  K.lwcrd  Conner,  and  Mr.  Lonif. 

Al'ier  some  remarks  hy  JuJgi!  Seinple,  .Mr.  TranibuH,  and  .Mr.  Pec!:,  the  meeting  adjourned 
until  VVcdni'sday  evening. 

Wediiei^day  evening  the  meeting  was  numerously  attended. 

3.1r.  7'RU.MBULIi,  iVom  the  comniittce  appointed  on  the  former  evening,  reported  t'.ie  follow- 
ing resolutioii.s : 

,  Jiesa/vctl,  That  the  rijht  of  the  United  States  to  tlie  whole  Oregon  Territory  is  not  to  be 
ducjiUoned;  and  under  vvli.itcver  pretence  any  other  natioii  nuiy  l:iy  claim  to  lliat  country,  both 
^\e  dignity  and  iioaor  of  the  United  States  require  t!iat  they  should  at  once  as.icrt  their  right, 
tiful  resist  s;uch  claim. 

Jiesolved,  That  the  interest  and  safely  of  the  I'nlfed  State,')  demand  that  the  Federal  Govern- 
jipent  .slioLiid  take  immediate  and  ci'licient  measure?  for  the  ocei'pntion  of  the  Oregon  Territory, 
lUi  1  the  estahlislnnent  tlicre  of  a  Territorial  Government. 

.R-'3olvei!,  That  wp  viinv  with  distrust  the  occijpation  of  any  portion  of  the  Oregon  Ten-itory 


1 


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m 


m 


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10  i 

by  the  tubjectt  of  the  British  Crown,  and  cannot  but  believe  that  the  object  of  Great  Britain  in 
eatablishing  military  posts  in  that  country,  and  encouraging  her  subjects  to  settle  there,  is  to 
cause  its  settlement  by  a  people  devoted  to  her  interests,  and  to  afford  her  a  pretence  hereafter 
to  claim  the  countiy  as  her  own. 

Resolved,  That  the  policy  of  Great  Britain  in  establishing  colonies  in  remote  parts  of  the 
globe,  contiguous  to  other  nations,  with  a  view  of  extending  her  own  power,  and  encroaching 
upon  the  1 .  rritory  of  other  Governments,  should  not  be  permitted  to  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
United  States ;  and  that  we  will  never  give  our  consent  to  a  surrender  of  any  part  of  the  Oregon 
Territory  to  that  or  any  other  power. 

Jiesolved,  That  the  settlement  of  the  Oregon  Territory  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
will  prove  of  immense  advantage  to  the  commercial  interests  of  the  country,  by  affording  harbors 
for  our  vessels  in  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  facilitating  trade  with  the  East  Indies ;  and  will  greatly 
add  to  the  safety,  as  well  as  the  honor  of  the  Republic. 

Resolved,  That  if  the  General  Government  will  but  assert  its  rights,  and  extend  its  fostering 
care  and  protection  alike  to  all  citizens  wheresoever  settled  within  her  limits,  the  day  is  not 
distant  when  our  enterprising  and  adventurous  countrymen,  invited  by  the  salubrious  climate  and 
fertile  soil  of  the  country  bordering  the  Pacific,  will  extend  thither  their  settlements,  and  dispense 
from  the  western  shore  of  this  vast  Continent,  wealth,  commerce,  and  freedom,  to  the  remotest 
parts  of  the  earth. 

After  the  reading  of  the  resolutions,  the  meeting  was  addressed  by  Judge  Semple,  Judge 
Douglass,  and  U.  F.  Litider,  in  favor  of  their  adaption,  and  by  Mr.  Baker,  in  opposition. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  Thursday  evening.  On  that  evening  the  Hall  waj 
crowded. 

The  meeting  was  addressed  at  great  length  by  General  Hardin,  in  favor  of  the  resolutions. 

Mr.  Malheny,  of  Springfield,  ofl'ered  a  substitute  for  the  resolutions  reported  by  the  com 
mittee,  which  was  read,  and  supported  by  Mr.  Mathenv  and  Mr.  Baker. 

Mr.  Linder  also  addressed  the  meeting  again,  in  favor  of  the  resolutions  of  the  committee. 

The  substitute  was  laid  upon  the  table,  and  the  resolutions  of  the  committee  adopted. 

The  meeting  then  requested  the  two  papers  printed  in  Springfield  to  publish  the  resolutions. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned, 

JESSE  B.  THOMAS,  Chairman. 
Newton  Cloud,  Secretary. 


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SPEECH  OF  JUDGE  SEMPLE. 

In  this  country,  where  public  opinion  not  only  governs  the  conduct  of  men  in  society,  bi 
the  Government  itself;  where  the  President  and  Congiess  of  the  United  States  look  to  pubii 
sentiment  as  a  proper  rule  of  action,  it  is  a  matter  of  importance  to  adopt  some  mode  of  ascc: 
taining  that  sentiment,  and  giving  it  its  due  weight  in  the  councils  of  the  nation.  I  know  i 
no  means  more  clleciual  than  those  of  public  meetings,  where  tlie  wiiole  body  of  the  people  en 
meet  together,  and,  alter  full  discussion,  express  in  tho  form  of  »esolutions,  the  opinions  whic 
they  entertain. 

Entertaining  this  opinion,  I  invited  the  attention  of  the  public  to  the  immediate  occupation  ( 
the  Oregon,  at  a  public  meeting  of  the  people  at  Alton,  in  the  month  of  November  last.  I  fbui 
my  expectations  fully  realized  in  the  unanimous  expression  of  opinion  among  citizens  of  n 
political  parlies  on  that  subject.  That,  I  believe,  was  the  first  public  meeting  ever  called  in  tl 
United  States  on  the  subject  of  the  occupation  of  the  Oregon.  The  proceedings  of  that  meetii; 
have  been  noticed  and  commented  on  in  every  part  of  the  United  States.  This  shows  tl  i  throu 
interest  that  is  bcginriiug  to  be  taken  by  the  whole  people  of  the  United  States  on  that  sulyect.     o"*^) 

This  question  presents  itself  to  us  ia  many  important  points  of  view.  One  of  the  pbjectioi 
to  th«  extension  of  our  territory  is,  that  the  Government  will  become  unwieldly,  and  that  Stal 
situated  on  the  Pacific  can  never  be  kept  under  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  but  mu 
become  independent.  I  think  this  opinion  is  entirely  unfounded.  The  nature  of  our  Fedei 
and  State  Government  is  calculated  to  extend  itself.  I  am  quite  willing  to  admit  that  one  centr 
Government  would  never  be  able  to  make  laws  to  satisfy  any  great  extent  of  territory  ;  indec 
that  now  contained  in  tlic  limits  of  the  United  States  could  never  be  governed  by  one  and  t! 
same  Legislature.  But  while  the  State  Governments  are  maintained  in  the  proper  and  cons 
tutional  exercise  of  individual  sovereignty,  they  severally  have  all  the  powers  necessary  to 
independent  State,  in  the  same  manner,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  if  the  btato  owed  : 
allegiance  or  obligation  to  any  other  on  earth.  They  can  make  all  laws  among  themselves,  tl; 
tho  wishes  of  the  people  might  dictate,  without  interfering  with  any  other.  This  interfere  icc 
State  would  have  no  right  to  exercise  if  it  did  not  belong  to  the  Union,  nd  was  wholly  indcpe  *  f'*^  c 
dent.    All  ouch  interference  among  independent  nations  in  prohibited  ,  y  the  general  laws     "  's 


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11 


Great  Britain  in 

settle  there,  is  to 

pretence  hereafter 

mote  parts  of  the 
,  and  encroaching 
t  to  bear  upon  the 
)art  of  the  Oregon 

the  United  States 
^  affording  harbors 
and  will  greatly 

jtend  its  fostering 
its,  the  day  is  not 
tbrious  climate  and 
lents,  and  dispense 
)m,  to  the  remotest 

ge  Semple,  Judge 
in  opposition, 
ening  the  Hall  wai 

the  resolutions, 
lorted  by  the  com 

the  committee.       ^ 
e  adopted.  I 

h  the  resolutions,     i 

ilAS,  Chairman.     ' 


men  in  society,  bi 
tatcs  look  to  pubii  ' 
3omc  mode  of  ascc, 

nation.  I  know  c  : 
]y  of  the  people  en  v 
,  the  opinions  vvhii  ** 

lediate  occupation  (  ' 
ember  last.     I  four 
mong  citizens  of  n 
ng  ever  called  in  tl   ■ 
lings  of  that  nieetii; 
8.     This  shows  tl  <• 
tcs  on  that  subject. 
Dne  of  the  pbjectio:  I 
Idly,  and  tliat  Stat  i 
ited  States,  but  mu  * 
lature  of  our  Fedei 
idmit  that  one  cent! 
of  territory ;  indec 
jrned  by  one  and  t! 
le  proper  and  cons 
wers  necessary  to 
f  the  State  owed  i  , 
long  themselves,  tl; 
This  interfere  cc 
was  wholly  indepc  * 
the  general  laws 


nationfl.  The  powers  of  the  Federal  Oovemment  are,  and  ought  to  be,  Umiitcd  tp  those  nmtten 
Tvhich  concern  the  whole — powers  which  no  one  State  would  ever  desire  to  possess.  If,  while 
the  several  States  were  thus  exercising  the  powers  of  sovereignty,  we  could  suppose,  or  be  assured, 
that  there  never  would  be  any  difference  among  them,  or  that  none  of  them  would  ever  be  attacked 
by  foreign  powers,  there  would  be  no  use  for  a  Federal  Government.  But  the  sad  experience  of  all 
nations  proves  that  this  it  is  idle  to  expect.  The  transactions  now  going  on  before  our  eyes,  where 
a  powerful  maritime  ration  is  actually  robbing,  in  the  most  unjust  and  cruel  manner,  a  people 
who  never  molested  or  injured  them,  admonishes  us  that  we  must  be  on  our  guard  against  like 
aggressions.  This  can  only  be  done  by  presenting  a  powerful  force,  capable  of  preventing  any 
attack,  or  of  punishing  any  insult.  This  can  only  be  done  by  the  united  force  of  all.  The 
greater  this  power,  the  more  certain  will  be  the  security.  The  more  extensive  our  Union,  the 
more  powerful  we  will  be ;  while  one  of  a  thousand  States  would  manage  it^  own  affairs  as 
well  as  if  that  was  the  only  State  on  the  Continent. 

I  have  long  been  convinced,  that,  under  our  peculiar  and  happy  form  of  Government,  so  well 
adapted  to  the  genius  of  our  people,  no  extension  of  territory  will  ever  endanger  the  Union  ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  the  tendency  of  extension  will  be  to  strengthen  the  Union.  But  suppose 
the  contrary — suppose  that  extension  be,  in  truth,  dangerous ;  the  question  arises,  how  will  we 
avoid  the  danger]  Is  extension  more  dangerous  than  division]  Is  it  necessary  for  me  at  this 
day  to  portray  the  dangers  of  disunion]  Have  the  glowing  pictures  drawn  by  the  ablest  states- 
men and  purest  patriots  been  forgotten  ]  Is  the  question  of  union  or  disunion  again  to  be  debated  ] 
God  forbid  !  What,  then,  are  we  to  do  with  those  extensive  regions  west  of  us  ]  The  time  has 
arrived  when  we  must  act.  If  we  do  not  occupy  them,  others  will.  Our  people  will  emigrate  to 
those  regions.  Are  we  to  extend  over  them  our  protecting  arm,  or  will  we  either  allow  them  to 
add  to  the  power  of  some  ambitious  foreign  nation,  or  let  them  form  an  independent  Govern- 
ment] While  none  will  admit  the  former,  the  latter  would  at  once  be  disunion.  It  is  a  people 
■  that  constitutes  a  nation,  not  a  territory.  Those  who  will  emigrate  to  Oregon  will  be  our  people, 
possessed  of  the  same  ideas  of  Government ;  the  same  industry  and  enterprise ;  the  same  ambi- 
t  tion,  and  the  same  powers  of  injuring  us,  if  ever  foreign  intrigues  should  (which  God  forbid) 
make  us  enemies.  I  consider  this  Union  as  already  dissolved  and  separated  into  two  parts,  by  the 
separation  of  Texas;  and  the  sooner  we  go  to  work  to  unite  that,  as  one  ot  our  States,  the  sooner 
will  we  be  able  to  cure  the  evils  arising  from  disunion.  I  am  convinced,  that,  at  this  moment  of 
time,  ail  the  arts  and  intrigues  of  which  European  powers  arc  capable,  are  at  work  to  make 
the  Texans  our  enemies.  Those  powers  of  intrigue  have  already  triumphed  as  to  all  the  rest  of 
the  Slates  of  Spanish  America,  and  we  are  now  suffering  under  its  evil  effectb.  Our  interests, 
us  well  as  our  safety,  require  that  we  should  look  well  to  the  effects  of  an  extension  of  tliat 
hostility. 

It  is  true,  we  have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  weak  and  puerile  States  of  Spanish  America.  Have 
wc  as  little  to  fear  from  a  State  composed  of  the  Saxon  race  ]  Can  we  have  any  assurance  that  we 
will  always  be  able  to  maintain  peace  with  the  Texans  without  a  common  Government]  Could 
we  not,  with  the  same  rca:ion,  hope  to  prevent  war  between  a  northern  and  southern  Government 
divided  by  the  Potomac]  'J  hose  who  suppose  so,  must  suppose  against  the  opinions  of  the 
wisest  and  best  of  men,  as  well  as  against  actual  experience.  I  assert,  therefore,  the  seeds  of 
discord  are  now  being  sown  by  our  enemies  and  rivals;  and  that,  if  wo  do  not  apply  a.  timely 
remedy,  wo  nmst  come  to  suller  all  that  we  have  evur  feared  from  disunion. 

But  It  may  be  said  that  the  Oregon  is  in  dispute,  and  that  we  must  take  care  how  we  tread,  or 
wc  will  have  war  with  England,  War  has  no  terrors  for  the  people  of  this  country.  The  time 
hiis  gone  by  when  this  Uiition  shall  agree  to  surrender  a  solitary  just  right  to  avoid  war.  If  we 
arc  to  surrender  a  solitary  uiidoubtCvi  right  through  fear  of  war,  the  principle  is  the  same  as  if, 
through  fear  of  war,  we  were  to  surrender  our  independence.  It  is  an  old  saying,  and  a  true 
one,  that  if  we  have  our  hands  in  the  lion's  moutli,  wc  should  get  it  out  the  bust  way  we  can. 
If  a  nation  is  weak  and  defenceless,  and  unjust  and  unreasonable  demands  are  made  upon  it  by 
a  powerful  nation,  I  admit  that  good  policy  and  sound  wisdom  would  justify  the  weaker  nation 
in  niii;;ing  the  best  terms  possible,  (ind  even  surrendering  some  of  its  undoubted  rigiits,  to  preserve 
the  rest.  But  is  it  not  shameful,  yes,  disgraceful,  for  an  American  to  hold  such  language  ]  Are 
we  that  weak  and  defenceless  people  that  would  hesitate,  and  ofitir  to  give  up  one  right  to  pr>.- 
serve  another]  Are  we  not  strong  enough  to  preserve  all  our  rights  ]  I  must  confess,  that  when 
I  hear  an  American  talking  of  surrendering  our  just  rights  "for  the  sake  of  peace,"  or,  in  other 
words,  surrendering  them  through  fear,  I  feel  somewhat  indignant.  I  have  never,  in  the  whole 
course  of  my  life,  felt  so  sensibly  any  act  of  our  Federal  Government  as  that  which  surrendered 
to  the  British  a  part  of  the  undoubted  territory  of  the  Stale  of  Maine.  The  agreeing  to  one 
unjust  demand  always  invites  another.  There  is  no  stopping  place.  The  encroaching  power 
is  encouraged  by  one  concession  to  demand  another,  until  all  is  gone.  If  we  are  ignorant  of 
the  character  of  that  power  to  which  we  have  lately  ceded  a  part  of  the  State  of  Maine, 
it  is  our  own  fault;  wo  have  su.iicient  evidence  of  that  grasping  people,  who  will  not  stop 


I(    I 


'^ 


r>i 


'    f 


13 

short  of  nrrounding  us  with  enemies.     Mexico  is  now  our  enemy,  not  by  nature,  but  made  so  : 

by  the  intrip^ues  of  that  very  people  who  now  border  us  on  the  north,  and  wish  to  join  Mexico  ]     r  i 

on  our  western  frontier.  i  -.u  :„i. 

The  same  mail  which  brought  to  us  the  treaty  ceding  part  of  Maine,  brought  news,  also,  of  l-oa-* 
ships  sailing  to  the  Pacific  with  the  obvious  intention  of  occupying  the  Oregon,  or,  at  least,  of  >fji„-i! 
preventing  us  from  doing  so.    There  never  was,  in  my  opinion,  u  grt-ater  mistake  tii;in  to  suj-pose  '  e  «  '» 
that  concession  procures  peace:  tiie  reverse  is  the  trutli.     If,  wlien  the  Ilarliary  poweru  umJertook  .'-__  i. 
to  commit  depredations  on  our  commerce  in  the  Mediterranean  sea,  we  had  bought  peace  by   j^j^a  „, 
tribute,  we  would  not  only  have  been  com|>elied  to  pay  immense  sums  from  time  to  time,  but  L_j  , 
even  that  wouiJ  not  have  protected  us.     We  then  took  a  dilierent  course.     We  asserted  our  \„a  „„ 
rights  at  the  mouth  of  the  cannon,  and  no  nation  in  the  world  has  ever  since  carried  on  cum-  >    q^  . 
mercc  in  that  country  with  so  little  interruption.  deirrec 

I  will  now  p.oceed  to  state  what  I  consider,  not  to  be  the  foundation  of  our  claim,  but  the  proof  gtatcs  < 
of  our  undoubted  viffht  to  the  territory  said  to  be  disputed  by  ihe  British.  Ifcxtensi 

The  French,  Spaniard?,  Russians,  and  British,  have  all  laid  claim,  from  time  to  time,  either  to  tp j  jj^^ 
the  whole  or  part  of  the  northwest  coast  of  America.  Civilized  nations  have  generally  admitted  ^^  ^ii, 
the  right  of  discovery,  and  .igreed  that  any  civilized  people  might  justly  occupy  a  country  inhabited  l^jth  (jj, 
by  savages.  Discovery  was  the  foundation  of  the  right  or  claim  of  the  Spaniards ;  several  of  T 
their  navigators  having  sailed  along  the  coast  of  America,  in  the  Pacific  ocean,  as  far  as  Capo 
Mcndicino,  and,  on  some  occasions,  as  far  as  the  forty-ninth  degree  of  north  latitude.  The 
Spaniards  were  undoubtedly  the  first  who  ever  sailed  on  that  coast.  There  never  has  been  any 
definite  limits  set  as  to  how  much  of  any  country  was  acquired  by  discovery.  If  the  Spaniards 
sailed  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Califurnia,  which  they  most  unquestionably  did,  before  any  other 
nation  or  people,  they  might  lay  claim  to  the  whole  coast. 

California  yvas  discovered  as  early  as  1534,  and  Cabrillo  sailed  as  far  along  the  coast  as  the  j^vinff"i 
forty-third  degree,  as  early  as  1540;  while  the  first  English  ship,  under  the  command  of  Sir  ?  Thu*: 
Francis  Drake,  did  not  visit  the  northwest  coast  until  1578 — nearly  forty  years  after. 

Whatever  rip'.it  the  Spaniards  may  have  had  was  ceded  to  tiic  United  States  by  the  treaty  of 
IS  19.     We  have,  then,  by  purchase,  all  the  right  which  the  Spaniards  ever  could  have  had. 

Tim  French  claim* was  also  founded  on  discovery.  La  Salle  first  discovered  the  moutli  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  laid  claim  to  all  the  waters  of  that  river.  After  the  French  colonies  in  Canada 
had  increased,  and  their  trading  posts  had  extended  from  Quebec  to  IS"ew  Orleans,  they  claimed 
not  only  ail  t\v~}  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  but  extended  it  indeflnilely  west,  to  all  places  not 
actually  occnpii'd  by  any  other  civilized  nation.  This  was  geueially  understood  to  include  the 
Oregon.  In  support  cl'  this  idea,  that  Louisiana  extended  to  the  Pacific,  I  will  only  at  present  _ 
nieiitiiiri,  thiit  tliis  was  i;i',mUtod  by  England,  at  least;  for  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  1713,  thujl^ag  !,, 
boundary  between  Canada  and  Louisiana  on  one  side,  and  the  Hudson';j  Bay  Company  on  iho  'tUy  ^  i 
otlicr,  was  fixed  to  commence  on  the  coast  in  latitude  fifty-eight  degress  thirty-one  minutes  north, ||i,]e  f^^ 
thence  to  run  in  a  southwest  direction  to  latitude  forty-nine  degrees  north,  and  along  that  lino  siii'jjigi 
indefinitely  westward.  So  far,  then,  as  England  is  concerned,  she  is  prevented  Irom  saying  thatiltc  the 
Louisiana  was  hounded  by  the  waters  of  the  .Mississippi.  After  Canada  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  English,  Louisiana  still  remained  in  possession  of  ihc  French  unti!  it  was  coded  to  Spain  in 
1762,  in  whose  hands  it  remained  until  1800,  when  Spain  re-ceded  it  to  France  ;  and  in  1803, 
France  ceded  it  to  the  United  States,  'i'lie  words  of  this  cession  are :  '•  In  extent  the  same  as  it 
now  is  in  (he  hands  of  France,  as  it  was  in  the  hands  of  Spain,  and  as  it  formerly  was  in  the 
hands  of  France." 


ith  El 

A  nor 

far  ai 

Tued,  ( 

revio\ii 

,  That 

Ind  the 


r  gran 
til  sh< 


All  these  transfers  of  Louisiana  were  without  any  specific  limits.     The  ultimate  purchaser, 
therefore,  had  a  right  to  whatever  could  ho  shown  to  be,  [jroperly  npeaking,  Louisiana.     It  is  not 


tirely 
ich  w 
the  tc 
tailed 
ereigr 
p«indenc( 


my  intention  to  en'"'"  into  a  minuto  statement  of  these  several  claims  on  the  pari  of  S()ain  and( 


lims  oi 

It;  the 
Jiinst  1 
France,  nor  do  I  consider  it  at  all  important,  as  both  tiiese  nations  havo  rclimiuished  all  their;^  Atlai 
claims  to  the  United  States.  It  is  only  necessary  to  mention  them  as  showing  the  extent  of  thc;!^  prese 
claim  purchased.  Mr.  .leiferson,  that  truly  sagacious  politician,  understood  the  purchase  of)|«lje  ij,, 
Jjouisiana  as  giving  the  right  as  fur  as  the  Pacific;  for  imniediatoly  after  tiie  negotiation  was|A  R^sf 
closed,  he  sent  Messrs.  Lewis  and  Clark  to  explore  those  regions,  whose  vic^it  to  the  mouth  of  the  |But  th 
Columbia  may  not  only  be  considered  in  the  light  of  a  discovery  of  that  river,  (which  had,  iarflhind, 
part,  been  discovered  by  Captain  Gray  so  early  as  1787,)  but  n»;iy  also  be  considered  as  an»||h  inji 
expedition,  in  the  name  of  the  Govermncnt,  to  take  possession  of  Louisiana,  as  purchased  fiomjiprobal 
the  French.  l^o  the 

The  llussians  had  made  many  discoveries,  and  some  settlements,  in  dilierent  places  on  therjlcre  is 
coast,  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  nolice,  because,  by  the  treaty  of  St.  Pctersburgh,  that  powerigipriety 
relinquished  to  t!ic  United  States  all  right  whatever  to  all  that  part  of  the  coast  south  of  fifiy-lour  g^  settle 
degrees  forty  minutes  north  latitude.  So  that  the  only  nation  now  claiming,  against  the  United  |^||inoii 
States,  any  part  of  that  coast  between  forty-two  and  fifty -lour  degveea  fony  minutes  north,  iJlBces  v\ 
Great  Britain.  fright 


;;" 


nerally  aJmitted 
jountry  inhabited  ' 
liards ;  several  of 
far  as  Cape 


I,  as 


h  latitude.    The 


13 

ire,  but  made  so  , 

I  to  join  Mexico  j  Independent  of  the  fact  that  both  Spain  and  France  had  better  claims  than  England,  both  of 
.  I  which  claims  have  been  tra-'.sferred  to  the  United  States,  and  independent  of  the  fact  that  the 
it  news,  also,  of  icoogt,  as  well  as  the  interior  of  the  country,  wrrc  discovered  by  Captain  Gray,  and  by  Lewis  and 
II,  or,  at  least,  of  Sciark^  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  tliat  En;jland  has  recognised  our  right  by  the  surrender 
than  to  suppose  j,f  Astoria,  after  the  last  war;  there  is  one  point  of  view  in  which,  so  far  as  regards  England, 
DWt-rs  undertook  J^g  have  an  undoubtecrrigbt:  By  the  grant  to  Virginia,  by  Charles  I^  1609,  the  King  of  Eng- 
boughl  peace  by  iWa^  made  the  limits  of  Virginia  to  extend  from  Old  Point  Comfort  two  hundred  miles  northward, 
time  to  time,  but  ^^d  two  hundred  miles  southward,  along  tho  sea-coast,  and  all  the  land  up  into  tlio  interior,  west 
We  asserted  our   tjn,j  northwest,  from  sya  to  sea. 

carried  on  com-  >    gy  the  foregoing  grant,  the  southern  line  of  Virginia  would  extend  on  or  near  the  thirty-fourth 

'degree  of  latitude  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  the  northern  line  would  run  across  the 

;/m,  but  the  proof  i^tatcs  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  include  a  great  part  of  Upper  Canada.     This 

Extensive  grant  to  Virginia  was  afterwards  curtailed  by  several  other  grants  to  difTercnt  persons, 

to  time,  either  to  |^„j  tin,  limits  of  Virginia  were  cut  down  to  iU  present  form,  as  far  as  related  to  the  lines  east  of 

e  Alleghany  Mountains ;  but  no  subsequent  grant  or  claim  of  any  other  colony  ever  interfered 

ith  the  claims  of  Virginia  to  her  possessions  west  of  those  mountains.     'I'he  treaty  of  peace 

ith  England,  in  17R3,  further  curtailed  her  limits,  so  as  to  cut  off  all  that  part  which  laid  west 

ind  north  of  the  lakes,  and  the  forty-ninth  dogrec  of  latitude,  west  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods, 

-fs  far  as  the  Rocky  Mountains.     The  treaty  of  1783  was  not  intended,  and  could  not  be  con- 

er  has  been  any  itrued,  to  deprive  any  of  the  then  colonies  of  the  limits  to  which  they  were  entitled  by  any 

If  the  Spaniards  Previous  grant,  farther  than  its  terms  import. 

before  any  other  %  That  part  of  said  treaty  of  1783,  which  undertook  to  lix  boundaries  between  the  United  States 

ind  the  French  and  Spanish  possessions,  was  wholly  void ;  neither  of  the  contracting'  parties 

g  the  coast  as  the  ||aving  any  right  to  fix  their  lines  unless  they  were  jjarties  to  the  treaty. 

command  of  Sir  ¥  Thu»;,  we  sev>  Virginia,  after  the  peace  of  1783,  claiming  all  the  western  country  included  in 

s  after.  fer  grant,  as  far  as  the  Mississippi ;  and  this  was  undisputed  by  any  other  of  tho  United  Colonies, 

is  by  the  treaty  of  ^til  she  ceded  all  her  western  lands  to  the  United  States.     I  have  said  that  Virginia  did  not 

aid  have  had.  'd|aim  west  of  the  Missipsippi ;  but  why  did  she  not  \  It  was  not  because  England  had  any  right 

the  mouth  of  tho  Whatever  to  prevent  it,  but  because,  until  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  in  1803,  the  claims  of  Spain 

d  France  were  considered  paramount,  as  well  to  Virginia  as  to  England,  who  granted  it  to 

irginia ;  and  we  were  not  so  hardy  as  to  set  up  the  grant  of  England,  who  had  no  title,  against 

ain  and  France,  who,  we  had  the  justice  to  admit,  had  a  better  riglit.     But  «vhat  do  we  now 

T     England  has  the  audacity,  at  this  day,  to  set  up  a  claim  not  only  against  the  title  of 

ance,  whose  title  was  admitted  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  1713,  but  against  Virginia,  to  whom 

echt.  In  1713,  thu  jj  was  granted  in  1609. 

Company  on  the   TBy  a  subsequent  treaty  with  England,  our  northern  line  was  fixed  on  the  49lh  parallel  of  lati- 

inc  minutes  north, ^Je,  from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  west,  as  far  as  tho  Kocky  Mountains. 

nd  along  lliat  lino  j|This  line,  it  will  be  seen,  stopped  short  at  the  Rocky  Mountains.    It  does  not  pretend  to  desig- 
liom  saying  that^tc  the  line  beyond,  either  to  give  it  to tne  British  or  acknowledge  it  to  tii.  i  uited  States.  Being 
tirely  silent,  the  grant  to  Virginia  remained  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  grant  froni  England, 
ich  was  from  sea  to  sea.     The  acknowledgment  of  the  independence  of  V'^irginia  gave  to  her 
tho  territory  she  then  claimed,  except  so  far  as  Virginia  herself  agreed  to  have  those  limits 
tailed.     When  any  nation  becomes  independent,  it  becomes  sd  with  the  right  to  exercise 
ereignty  in  all  the  territory  claimed,  and  which  it  can  maintain  with  arms ;  and  when  inde- 
p^dencc  is  acknowledged,  the  same  act  gives  the  sovereignty  over  that  terrhory.     Saving  the 
Itimatc  purchaser,  j|||iins  of  Franco  and  Spain,  then,  Virginia  claimed,  as  against  England,  all  the  land  from  sea  to 
;  the  purchase  of  Ijouisiana,  therefore,  with  the  cession  from  Virginia,  which  was  good  us 
inst  England,  the  United  States  became  lawfully  and  of  right  possessors  of  all  the  land  from 
Atlantic  to  th«!  Pacific.     These  limits  went  south  of  tho  present  Mexican  line,  and  north  of 
present  Russian  line.     But  as  we  have  already  ceded  to  those  countries  all  north  and  soutli 
he  lines  we  now  claim,  wc  can  have  no  other  cluimthan  to  that  country  between  the  Mexican 
Russian  boundaries  ;^  but  to  that  I  think  our  right  is  beyond  a  doubt. 

ut  there  is  another  ground  on  which  1  place  our  right  to  the  Oregon.     And  if,  in  taking  this 

r,  (which  had,  ia;iii|und,  I  may  depart  from  tho  idea  some  may  entertain  of  right,  I  hope  I  may  not  .be  charged 

considered  as  atifith  injustice  or  even  singularity,  when  they  reflect  that  upon  this  ground  the  question  will,  in 

as  purchased  from  J| probability,  have  to  be  ultimately  determined.     I  allude  to  the  right  derive<l  from  power.    Wo 

i#o  the  power  to  take  it,  and  we  will  have  it.     It  is  contiguous  to  our  territory.     It  suits  us. 

ent  places  on  tho["||cre  is  a  propriety  and  fitness  in  the  country  belonging  to  the  United  States,  and  there  is  no 

burgh,  that  poweri(i|priety  or  fitness  in  its  belonging  to  the  British.     There  is  a  great  deal  of  justice  and  equity  in 

south  of  fifiy-tourij#  settlers'  laws  in  this  country.     When  a  settler  sets  himself  down«  on  a  tract  of  jiublic  land 


olonies  in  Canada 
jans,  they  claimed 
,,  to  all  places  not 
ood  to  include  the 
[ill  only  at  present 


into  tho  hands  of  j 

oded  to  Spain  in, 

cc  ;   and  in  1803,i 

tent  the  same  as  itj 

raicrly  was  in  ihci 


uisiana.  It  is  not 
[larl  of  Spain  and 
inquished  all  their 
the  extent  of  the;] 
tho  purchase  of 
\e  negotiation  was 
the  mouth  of  llie 


>• 


against  the  United | 
minutes  north,  iai 


Illinois,  he  lays  claim  to  such  portions  of  the  adjoir.ing  land,  as,  in  the  nature  of  the  circum- 
ices  which  surround  him,  is  better  suited  for  him  than  any  other  person  ;  and  he  maintains 
'  right  oven  against  the  Government  of  the  United  States.    If  this  can  be  done  amongst  <ndi- 


14 


¥■ 


lit  < 


ill 

(  ! 


f 


1  'li 


I' I 


'I"' 


I 

same 


vidaal  citizens,  how  orach  more  among  nations,  who  never  feel  themselves  bound  by  the  i 
strict  rules  of  law,  when  convenience  and  power  both  unite  to  require  the  doing  of  the  act 

We  are  not  without  British  authority  for  this;  for  when  that  Government  took  possession  of 
the  Dutch  Colony  of  New  Amsterdam,  (now  New  York,)  the  best  reason  that  was  given  to  the,^ 
world  was,  that  it  lay  between  the  English  Colonies  of  New  England  and  those  of  Virginia. 
Nor  is  this  right  of  power  to  be  in  all  respects  scouted.  Every  nation  has  a  right  to  seek  its  own  jj^\  the 
happiness  and  safety.  If  we  seek  for  a  lawful  cause  for  resisting  the  laws  of  England  at  th«;|[|ind  n 
time  of  our  Revolution,  we  shall  find  that  as,  strictly  speaking,  tin  resistance  of  law  can  be  lawful,^e  cai 
so  the  propriety  of  things  (the  fact  that  we  could  manage  our  own  affairs,  in  our  opinion,  better  ,le  two 
than  the  Parliament  and  King  of  England,  and  that  we  could  promote  our  own  happiness  and  miles  c 
safety  to  a  greater  degree)  gave  us  an  undoubted  right  to  declare  independence,  and  take  our 
station  among  the  independent  nations  of  the  earth. 

Having  shown,  as  I  consider,  the  right  which  we  have  to  the  country,  I  will  proceed  to  show 
the  advantages  which  would  result  to  us  from  its  occupancy.     Not  only  at  the  present  day,  but 
from  the  earliest  ages  of  the  world,  the  tra<le  of  the  East  Indies  has  been  of  great  importance  to 
every  commercial  nation.    This  trade  we  could  control,  to  a  great  extent,  by  the  occupation.  o< 
the  Oregon.     From  the  time  that  the  Portuguese  discovered  the  passage  around  the  Cape  ol 
Good  Hope,  and  European  nations  saw  the  great  wealth  flowing  into  Lisbon,  from  a  monopoly 
of  the  trade  of  the  East,  every  one  sought  to  find  some  mode  of  rivalling  that  enterprising  people 
The  voyage  of  Columbus  to  the  New  World  was  never,  at  first,  intended  to  discover  a  new  aiUi- 
wild  country,  but  to  discover  a  passage  to  the  East  Indies.     When  he  first  landed  in  American 
he  supposed  he  was  on  the  territory  of  the  rich  eastern  empire,  and  hence  he  called  the  counti 
by  the  name  of  India,  which  subsequently  took  the  name  of  West  Indies,  in  c(fntradistinction  ti 
East  Indies.    This  opinion  prevailed  for  a  long  time  among  those  ^ho  discovered  this  continent ;! 
Finding,  ultimately,  that  the  lands  which  had  been  discovered  formed  no  part  of  the  East  Indies 
the  next  step  was  to  find  a  passage  through  the  land  into  the  great  South  seas,  or  Pacific  ocean 
It  was  not  until  thirty  years  after  the  discovery  of  America  that  Magellan  sailed  into  the  Pacific! 
through  the  straits  that  still  bear  his  name,  and  went  to  the  East  Indies  across  that  new  ai 
unknown  ocean.    He  returned  to  Europe  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope;  thus  (  rcumnavigati; 
the  globe  in  his  voyage.     Balboa  had  previously  discovered  the  great  Pacific  at  the  Isthmus 
Panama.     From  that  time  forward  the  Spaniards,  as  well  as  all  the  commercial  nations 
Europe,  were  constantly  engaged  in  endeavoring  to  find  a  passage  to  the  East  Indies.    Even 
to  this  day,  after  all  the  habitable  parts  of  this  continent  have  been  explored,  we  find  mai 
attempts  making  to  discover  a  northwest  passage,  through  which  ships  may  sail  to  the  coast 
China,  and  by  this  means  save  the  great  distance  around  Cape  Horn  or  Capo  of  Good  Hope, 

Not  only  has  a  passage  been  for  three  hundred  years  diligently  sought,  but  from  the  time  tl 
Balboa  first  crossed  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  in  1513,  to  the  present  time,  has  the  attention  of 
whole  commercial  world  been  turned  towards  the  project  of  cutting  a  ship-canal  across  the  Isthmuj 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  trade  with  the  East  Indies.    The  Spaniards  long  contemplated  tl 
great  work,  but  they  never  commenced  it.    They,  however,  for  many  years,  carried  on  an  ext 
fiive  trade  with  the  East  Indies,  landing  the  goods  at  Panama  and  Acapuico,  transporting  thi 
on  mules  across  the  country,  and  thence  shipping  them  to  Europe.    This  trade  was  found  to 
very  profitable,  and  continued  to  increase  for  many  years,  until  the  English,  becoming  powerl 
at  seq,  sent  a  fleet  into  the  Pacific,  and  destroyed  both  the  commerce  and  the  ships  in  which  fi 
was  carried  on. 

Since  the  independence  of  Mexico,  Guatamala,  and  Colombia,  many  projects  have  been  setiJUckly 
foot,  and  nur^.rous  attempts  made  to  complete  what  has  been  so  long  considered  of  so  great  i«)|i;ith 
portance — a  canal  across  the  Isthmus.     Several  routes  have  been  proj^osed,  and  partial  survei 
made,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  such  a  communication,  and  to  select 
route.     Three  principal  ones,  and  those  most  generally  spoken  of  are :  1st,  across  the  Isthmun 
Panama,  in  Colombia;  Sd,  through  the  Lake  of  Nicaraugua,  ui  Guatamala;  and  3(1,  from  tJ 
Bay  of  Tehuantepcc  through  the  Rio  Huasicualco  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.     Humboldt  adds  l'i\ 
otliers  in  his  speculations  ^on  this  subject ;  the  one  is  through  the  river  Atrato,  in  the  Gulf 
.Varien,  and  the  other  is  by  a  canal  connecting  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  with  the  Columi' 
liver.     This  last,  the  most  costly,  the  most  circuitous,  and  passing  the  widest  part  of  the  co; 
nent,  I  verily  believe  will  be  the  first  completed,  and  that  goods  will  bo  brought  from  Chii 
through  the  Columbia  river,  before  sixteen  miles  of  canal  will  be  cut  tlirough  the  Islhmui 
Panama. 

Since  the  United  States  have  grown  to  such  vast  commercial  importance,  the  views  of  Euro; 
nations  have  changed,  in  some  degree,  as  to  the  benefits  which  might  result  to  them  from  a  si 
canal  across  the  Isthmus.*    Before  there  was  any  commercial  power  in  America,  and  the  fail 
portions  of  it  were  divided  into  European  colonies,  the  shortening  of  the  distance  to  China 
Japan  was  of  great  importance,  because  that  nation  which  could  secure  the  passage,  wouli 


To, 
e  wii 
dies, 
the 
far 
est  t( 
thee 
Fror 
the  f 
eUn 
hilef 
nited 
Chu 
ould  I 
ousat 
his  m 
de  ol 
licatioi 
ould, 
hile  f( 
this 
irticles 
Iha^ 
de  o: 
lying 
ur  go\ 
enty 
nguc 
Is  it 
n  be 
ge3? 
[oing  i 
ntil 
the 
Som 


mter, 

le  to 
eithci 
ich  I 

ta. 
ive  di 

mc 
cky 

rren 
thin 


mo 
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irge, 
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e  sat 
peril 


15 


lund  by  ihe 
g  of  the  act. 
ook  posseraion  of 
was  given  to  the 
those  of  Virginia. 


lurse  monopolize  the  commerce.  Now  there  is  a  rival  in  America  to  all  these  powers  of  Europe, 
hat  rival  is  now  carrying  on  the  trade  to  advantage,  though  situated  at  a  greater  distance, 
he  communication  by  the  Isthmus  would  throw  the  American  traders  nearer  than  Europe, 
his  will  require  some  explanation.  As  the  trade  is  now  carried  on,  the  average  distance  from 
;ht  to  seek  its  own  jgll  the  ports  of  the  United  States  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  by  sea,  is  two  thou- 
of  England  at  thsj^gnd  miles  farther  than  the  average  distance  from  all  the  ports  in  Europe  to  the  same  point.  If 
law  can  be  lawful„^e  canal  could  be  opened,  then  the  average  distance  from  the  ports  in  the  United  States  would 
»ur  opinion,  better, le  two  thousand  miles  less,  making  a  dilFerence,  in  favor  of  the  United  States,  of  four  thousand 
wn  happiness  and  miles  of  sea  navigation. 

ence,  and  take  our  „  To  prove  this,'  you  have  only  to  cast  your  eyes  on  a  map  of  the  world,  and  learn  the  nature  of 
te  winds  and  currents  which  set  constantly  westward  from  the  coast  of  Africa  towards  the  West 
tdies.     In  order  to  avoid  these  currents  and  the  trade  winds,  and  pass  around  Cape  St.  Rogue, 

the  eastern  promontory  of  South  America,  every  vessel  going  from  the  United  States  must  go 

far  as  the  Cape  Verd  Isles,  near  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  thence  bear  south  and  sou&- 
rest  to  Cape  Horn.     Vessels  from  Euro{)e  make  the  same  islands,  and  from  thence  the  route 

the  same. 

From  the  United  States  to  the  Cape  Verd  Isles  is  about  four  thousand  miles.     From  Europe 

the  same  point  is  about  two  thousand  miles.  (I  speak  in  round  numbers.)  The  distance  froui 
le  United  States  to  the  Rio  iluasicualco,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  is  (say)  two  thousand  miles; 
rhile  from  Europe  it  is  four  thousand.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  difl'erenco  in  favor  of  the 
fnited  States  is  four  thousand  miles.  By  the  present  route,  a  ship  from  the  United  States,  going 

China  or  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  would  have  to  sail  two  thousand  miles  farther  than 
rould  a  ship  from  Europe.  By  ^e  Isthmus,  one  from  the  United  States  would  have  to  sail  two 
lousand  miles  less  than  one  from  Europe,  going  to  the  same  point  anywhere  in  the  Pacific 
'his  makes  it  quite  plain,  that  if  we  can  get  a  communication  through  the  Isthmus,  the  whole 

ide  of  the  Paciiic  would  be  thrown  into  the  hands  of  our  enterpriniiig  merchants.  A  commu- 
|ication  through  the  interior  of  this  continent,  by  way  of  the  Columbia  and  Missouri  rivers, 
rould,  for  some  purposes,  have  the  same  effect,  with  only  the  additional  costs  of  transportation ; 
rhile  for  other  purposes  it  possesses  an  immense  advantage  over  the  route  by  the  Isthmus;  for, 

this  way,  the  vast  extent  of  country  all  along  the  route  would  be  thus  supplied  with  the 
jrticles  of  Indian  manufacture,  &c. 

I  have  said  thus  much  to  show  the  vast  importance  which  has  always  been  attached  to  the 
rade  of  the  East  Indies.  While  the  whole  world  has  been,  for  more  than  three  hundred  years, 
tying  plans  to  secure  the  advantages  of  that  trade,  we  are  now  debating  whether  we  will  extend 
^ur  government  and  laws,  our  population,  our  industry,  and  our  enterprise,  to  a  coast  within 

renty  days'  sail,  by  steamboat,  to  that  very  land  the  trade  of  which  has  been  the  theme  of  all 
mgucs  for  so  many  generations ! 

Is  it  possible  that  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Western  country  in  particular, 
m  be  contented  with  a  longer  delay  in  the  occupation  of  a  country  possessing  so  many  advan- 
iges  ?  No,  sir.  This  question  has  only  to  be  agitated  among  the  people,  as  we  are  now 
loing  it,  and  a  voice,  that  must  be  obeyed  in  this  country,  will  be  sounded  through  the  land, 
intil  Congress  will  be  compelled  to  act.     There  will  be  no  escape  from  an  immediate  occupation 

the  Oregon  Territory. 

Some  travellers  have  represented  the  country  as  barren  and  sterile,  with  a  climate  damp  and 
ckly,  incapable  of  sustaining  a  dense  population  ;  wliile  others  represertt  it  as  rich  and  fertile, 
ilh  a  fine  healtliy  climate,  where  the  winters  are  so  mild  as  that  cattle  can  keep  fat  during  the 
inter,  on  the  common  grass  of  the  prairies.    Now,  according  to  the  best  information  I  have  been 

le  to  obtain,  as  well  from  boolis  as  from  travellers  with  whom  I  have  conversed,  I  am  satisfied 
leithor  statement  is  correct.  You  cannot  find  in  Oregon  such  large  districts  of  uninterrupted 
ich  lands  as  are  found  in  Illinois.     The  very  nature  of  a  mountainous  region  forbids  such  an 

f 'd.  But  there  you  find  rich  valleys  and  plains  in  some  places,  surrounded  in  otjiers  by  exten- 
ive  districts  of  barren  and  sterile  lands,  interspersed  with  rocks  and  mountains.     We  find  the 

me  thing  occurring  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  with  probably  this  ditrerencc,  that  among  the 

)cky  Mountains  thero  are  plains  and  valleys,  as  well  as  high  ridges,  that  are  sandy  and  entirely 

rren,  while  these  occur  to  a  comparatively  limited  extent  among  the  Allcghanies.     The  result 

this  is  only,  that  just  so  far  as  the  barren  and  sandy  lands  extend,  that  number  of  acres,  and 
more,  must  be  deducted  from  the  whole  amount  of  good  and  arable  land  in  the  country.  That 

rt  of  the  country  which  is  good,  is  said  by  all  to  be  of  the  finest  description.  The  tirnber  is 
It  to  them  from  a  BJArge,  of  good  quality  for  every  purpose,  of  improving  farms,  building  houses,  or  for  ship-building, 
uerica,  and  the  fainBThe  prairies  constitute  the  finest  grazing  lands,  which  continues  during  the  winter,  even  as  far 
distance  to  China  As  the  latitude  we  are  now  in,  while  the  productions  of  agriculture  are,  in  nearly  every  respect, 
woul^e  same  as  ift  Illinois.     The  climate  is  mild,  and,  what  is  still  more  desirable,  it  is  steady.     Tne 

perience  of  the  present  winter  here,  it  appears  to  mc,  would  make  any  one  desire  to  change  it 


11  proceed  to  show 
le  present  day,  but 
;reat  importance  to 
r  the  occupation. 0( 
iround  the  Cape  oiri 
1,  from  a  monopolj 
enterprising  people 
discover  a  new  anw 
landed  in  America 
e  called  the  count 
ctfntradistinction  ti 
rered  this  continent 
t  of  the  East  Indicfi 
IS,  or  Pacific  ocean 
iled  into  the  PacificI 
cross  that  new  a 
lis  (  rcumnavigatii 
fie  at  the  Isthmus 
nmercial  nations 
ist  Indies.  Even 
ored,  we  find  mai 
y  sail  to  the  coast 
pe  of  Good  Hope 
ut  from  the  time  tl 
IS  the  attention  of 
al  across  the  Isthmtii 
ing  contemplated  tl 
,  carried  on  an  exto 
30,  transporting  th 
trade  was  found  to 
I,  becoming  powerfi 
he  ships  in  which  li 

jects  have  been  setr 
idered  of  so  great  i« 
d,  and  partial  surve] 
nd  to  select 

across  the  Isthmus! 
ila ;  and  3d,  from  t| 
Humboldt  odds  t*' 
\trato,  in  the  Gulf 
ri  with  the  Columi'^i 
dcst  part  of  the  coft 

brought  from  Chil 
trough  the  Isthmu^ 

,  the  views  of  Europ 


the  passage, 


■^utti 


11 

i 

1; 

i» 

i 
1 

\ 

m 

I  f 

•i 

I 


ill' 


16 

either  for  a  colder  or  a  warmer  climntc.     Steady  cold  would  l)e  much  preferable  to  conHtuiii 
changes,  such  as  we  have  experienced  liere  for  tin;  last  three  monthM.     Strange  us  it  may  appea 
to  many,  it  i»  nolwitlislundinjf  true,  ihat  on  tlie  const  of  the  Pacific  there  ia  a  difference  of  aboi 
ten  degrees  of  latitude  in  the  climate,  comparing  it  will)  this;  hu  (hul  in  forty  deforces,  north  lal 
tude,  you  havo  the  same  ciim  ite  as  in  thir! y  degrees  on  liiis  side  of  ihi^  Kooky  Mountains.     Yo\ 
will  have,  therefore,  in  the  Ore<!;on,  uhout  such  a  clinnUe,  in  point  of  loinpcrature,  as  at  Ne' 
Orleans  and  Natche/. ;  while  the  hi.','h  mountains  and  cltvutcd  valleys,  together  with  an  entirj 
absence  of  laki's  iind  swamps,  make  the  country  jurfnily  hiailiiy.     Heic  tiie  sandy  desert 
come  in  for  their  sliare  of  iulvanta;.!;ch.     'J'he  atino.s|)iicre  ahnut  those  taudy  plains  must  be  pur| 
and  dry;  no  unhe;dlhy  vapor  can  he  sent  from  tli'MU  over  the  ad  jiic  tail  rich  lands;  but,  on  thj 
contrary,  this  circumstance  adds  to  the  health  and  comibrt  of  tlie  iiihahitanls. 

The  range  of  mountains  which  extend  in  width  from  tlie  head  waters  of  the  Missouri,  Yellov. 
Stone,  rialte,  pnd  Arkansas  rivers,  almost  lo  the  shores  ef  the  Pacillc  oiean,  is  but  a  continuatioi*; 
of  the  Andes,  which  run  parallel  with  the  I'acilic  ocean,  entirely  from  Terra  del  Fuego,  througl 
Chili,  Peru,  t^uito,  Guatamala,  and  Mexico,  lo  the  Orc;;on,  and  becomti  finally  lost  in  the  frozei 
regions  of  the  north.  These  mountains  are,  in  many  respects,  the  same  in  character  with  those  ol 
the  south ;  they  rise  in  many  places  above  the  line  of  perpetual  snow.  The  climate  varies greati; 
on  the  diflercnt  bides  of  the  same  ridjie,  as  well  in  Icmperalure  as  in  humidity.  On  one  sideyoi 
will  see  a  fine  green  and  fertile  valley;  and  on  the  other  tide  of  the  saiui!  ridge  you  find  a  dr 
and  barren  soil.  In  the  whole  extent  of  the  Andes,  they  rise  in  ridges,  one  above  another,  ii 
rapid  succession,  fron.  the  ocean  to  tlie  highest  pari,  there  forming  tahlc-lan'sand  valleys,  vvhicl 
arc  mcf«  or  less  extensive  t  'they  ail  along  gradually  sliipc  towards  the  cast, 

From  this  conformation,  it  follows  that  the  rivers  which  eniply  into  llie  Pai-ific  are  all  smal^; 
compared  with  those  that  head  in  the  same  momitaims  and  empty  into  tlie  Atia.itic  or  Gulf  o 
Mexico.     It  is  not,  therefore,  to  be  expected  that  river  navijation  can  ever  be  very  extensive  wet 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains.     The  Colundua  river  Im  navigable,  w'thout  interruption,  only  abou 
one  hundred  miles  from  its  mouth.    The  continued  falls  and  rapids  would  render  it  very  difficul' 
and  expensive  to  make  a  good  river-navigation  for  any  great  distance  towards  its  source.     ThesI 
falls,  however,  atlbriling  abundance  of  water  above,  v'uld  render  it  altogether  easy  to  make 
canal  along  its  banks,  rising  towards  the  mountains  oy  means  of  locks.     But  while  this  rapii 
fall  of  the  waters,  from  the  mountains  to  the  ocean,  is  opposed  to  good  river-navigation,  there  i;l 
one  advantage  to  be  derived  from  it  which  will  always  counterbalance  this  disadvantage  :  canahj 
for  the  purposes  of  irrigation,  can  always  be  made  to  flow  over  the  adjacent  valleys  and  mountaii 
sides.     In  this  manner  the   Peruvian  Indians,  prior  to  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus' 
converted  large  districts  of  barren  land  (in  a  country  where  rain  never  was  known  to  fall)  inti 
fertile  fields. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  many  of  those  dry  districts  of  the  Oregon,  represented  as  barren  fo; 
want  of  rain,  could  be  turned  into  the  most  fertile  lands  by  means  of  irrigation ;  and  this  with  nifl 
great  expense.  Those  dry  parts  of  the  country  will  idtimatoly  be  the  most  agreeable  places  of 
residence,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  productive.  Being  dry,  the  air  will  be  purer  and  morffl 
healthy,  while  the  rains  neither  prevent  labor  in  the  fields,  nor  interrupt  travelling.  They  wil 
be  the  most  productive  because,  as  there  is  no  rain,  the  crops  will  have  uninterrupted  sun  am 
heat,  (as  necessary  to  vegetation  as  rain,)  while  from  the  irrigation  there  will,  at  the  same  time' 
be  aflorded  abundant  moisture  at  the  roots. 

The  mineral  productions  of  the  Oregon  are,  of  course,  but  little  known.     Its  riches,  iit  thi( 
respect,  must  hereafter  be  developed.     An  abundance  of  rock-salt  is  found  in  the  mountains, 
similar,  in  all  respects,  to  that  found  in  the  :-ume  ridge  of  the  Ajides,  in  South  America.     Thi 
mineral  productions,  I  have  reason  Ip  believe,  are  tlie  same  as  found  in  the  whole  of  that  ridge  ol 
mountains  from  north  to  south, 

The  Province  of  Sonora,  in  Mexico,  was  many  years  ago  the  richest  gold  region  in  America' 
The  Spaniards  found  in.  that  Province,  as  fur  as^lliirty-six  degrees  of  north  latitude,  gold  wash- 


ible  ihoi 


iut  6om 
be  imi 
it  sixU 
It  forty 

fifty! 
is  lei 
illed,  ni 
intains 

whict 

rart  oj 

On  the 

ules, 
route 
Banta 
[waters 
d  rivei 
r  as  w 
ntains, 
our 6U{ 
rove  V 
e  we  I 
n  with 
ts,  and 

eii.   t: 

Liount: 
count 
out, 
dearbc 
ments 
e  wea 
bank  o 
grass  I 
inlcs. 
he  us 
t  all< 
ich  I 


ings,  where  one  man  would  obtain  several  thousand  <lollars  by  a  day's  labor.  The  Baron  dt'^^  ". 
Humboldt,  in  his  work  on  New  Spain,  a(hrinr»  the  truth  of  this,  and  says  that  the  farther  nortli 
they  went,  the  richer  were  the  gold  mines.  'J'he  wars  with  the  Apache  Indians  finally  drove  thi 
Spaniards  from  those  rich  mines.  I  have  conversed  with  several  persons  who  have  been  amon^ 
the  Apache  Indians,  and  havc^eard  indirectly  from  others,  and  all  agree  in  the  statement,  thai 
both  north  and  south  of  the  Rio  Colorado  of  the  west,  there  are  rich  gold  mines.  'I'his  rich,' 
oriferous  ridge  extends  to  the  Lake  of  Timpanagos,  within  the  limits  of  the  Oregon  Terrritory. 

The  rivers  are  full  oi  fish,  of  the  finest  quality.     The  salmon  are  caught  in  large  quantities, 
and  constitute  an  extensive  article  of  commerce. 

»  The  trade  in  furs  has  always  been  very  extensive.     I  cannot  pretend,  at  this  time,  to  give  any 
▼cry  minute  account  of  the  amount  of  this  trade,  for  many  years,  in  succession ;  but  some  idea  i 
may  be  formed  of  the  amount  by  a  table  which  I  will  read. 


ns  ic 


17 


muble  thoiein^  the  amount  of  Furo  and  PeUrieo  exported  from  ;he  partt  of  ,imerica,  vwntd 
ferabie  to  constarJ  or  occupied  by  the  BHHfh. 

c  UK  it  may  appco  4 

dogroes,  north  la.,^  Kr't.  ^       .        .        .       .        \        .        .  ^''^^ 

Mountams.     Vov^  Lynx,     *  T      ......       .  i,020 

rature.  as  ut  NevJ  Wolf,  11890 

liur  Willi  an  entirB  Bear,  ...--...  ij)  .jsq 

tin;   puiidy  dcscrtjl  F«l,  . 311)10    " 

Ifiifis  must  be  pur  a  Mink,  S^C'la 

liirids;  but,  oil  th^  All  oilier  kinds, 2,475 

Missouri,  YellovJ  Total,     ....    $1,017,555 

but  a  contiiuiatioi  £ 

id  Fucgo,  throngr^"^''*""^  have  said  that  the  diRtance  to  the  Oregon  is  so  great  that  emigration  to  that  country 
S  lost  in  the  IrozelP  ^^  impracticable.  This  is  a  great  mistake.  The  western  part  of  the  State  of  Missouri  is  in 
actcr  with  those  cHh*  sixteen  degrees  of  west  longitude  from  Washington.  The  mouth  of  the  Umpqua  is  in 
mate  varies  grcatllip^  forty-five  degrees  west.     A  degree  of  longitude,  in  forty  degrees  north  will  not  vary  much 

On  one  side  yoiSP  ^'^^y  SngliBh  miles.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  from  (he  settlements  in  Missouri  to  the  Pacific 
\^e  you  lind  a  dr<W^  '^  '^^^  ^''a**  fifteen  hundred  miles  on  a  straight  line  going  west.  The  Southern  pass,  as  it 
■  above  another  i«P"e<^>  ^^^^  ^''^  hs&A  of  the  Platte  river,  will  afford  a  good  wagon  road  to  the  west  of  the  Rocky 
and  vailoya,  vvhicmp'*''^''"'-  '  ^'"  ^^^'^  ^'^'^"^  ^  letter,  which  I  believe  is  authentic,  and  will  show  the  facilities 
which  wagons  may  be  driven  into  the  Oregon : 

viflc  arc  ^\^^f^jLract  of  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Smith,  Jackson,  and  Sublette,  dated  in  October,  1829, 7o  the 
il.u.t.c  or  Gult  o-|  Secretary  of  War. 

cry  extensive  wet  J  /.        c    t      .       .  .        • 

uption,  only  abou,^^"  ^^  '^*"  °'  April  last  (1829)  we  set  out  from  St.  Louis  with  eighty-one  men,  all  mounted 
Icr  it  very  difficullji""'^'''  ^*^"  wagons,  each  drawn  by  five  mules,  and  two  dearborns,  each  drawn  by  one  mule. 
its  source.  Thesis  ^^^^  ^a"  n<''""'y  ♦^u"  west  to  the  western  limits  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  thence  along 
ler  easy  to  make  ^®''"**  ^^  '"''*''  ^^°^^  'orty  nii|pp,froni  which  the  course  was  .some  degrees  north  of  west,  across 
it  while  this  rapi™^"^^''^  of  the  Kanzas,  and  up  the  Great  Platte  river  to  the  Jiocky  Mountains  and  the  head  of 
lavii  ation  there  iW'''  "vcr,  where  it  issues  (Vom  the  mountains.  This  look  ui:  until  the  IGth  of  July,  and  was 
iidvantagc':  canahV"'  ^^  "^^  wanted  the  war^ons  to  go.  Here  the  wagons  could  easily  have  crossed  the  Rocky 
ileys  and  mountaiiW"*'*'"''*'  ''^  hcing  what  is  culled  the  Sout/ieni  pass,  had  it  been  desirable  for  thcni  to  do  so. 
rica  by  ColumbusW""''*"Pr°"^^  *^"  leaving  the  Missouri  settlements,  until  we  should  get  into  the  Buffalo  country, 
known  to  fall)  intcV'^"'*'  twelve  head  of  cattle,  besides  a  milch  cow,  tight  of  these  only  4ieing  required  for  use 
^e  we  got  to  the  buH'uloes.  The  others  went  on  to  the  head  of  Wind  river.  We  began  to 
ented  as  barren  foW"  ^'''*  ^''®  buffaloes  on  the  Platte,  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  white  settle- 

•  and  this  with  iiA'"'  '^"^  ''^*'"*  ^''"^  ^"'^''  W'V'^A  on  buffaloes,  the  quantities  being  infinitely  beyond  what  we 
aVreeablo  places  o'W*'^''  ^^"  *'^^  4th  of  Auu;ust,  we  set  out  on  the  return  to  St.  Jiouis;  all  the  high  points  of 
be  purer  and  morriP^''""^^'"^  ''^'^"  '"  view,  being  covered  with  snow ;  but  the  pai^scs  and  valleys,  and  all  the 
elling.  I'hey  wiw  country,  was  preen  wilh  ^jrass.  Our  route  back  was  over  the  same  ground,  nearly,  as  in 
iterrupted  sun  an(!S^  ""'■'  '*"^'  ^'^  arrived  in  St.  Louis  on  the  10th  of  October,  bringing  back  the  two  wagons, 

at  the  same  tirneW^^'*      '^"''  ^"^'"!?  '*'*'  hf'hind  ;)  four  of  the  oxen  and  the  milch  cow  were  also  brought  to  the 
ments  in  Missouri.     Our  men  were  all  healthy  during  the  whole  time ;  we  sufftred  nothing 

Its  riches  in  thi*y  weather,  and  hid  no  accident  but  the  death  of  one  man,  who  was  killed  by  the  falling  in 

in  the  mo'untaing«''""'^  of  earth.     Of  the  mules,  wo  lost  but  nw  ;  and  two  h<irses  stolen  by  the  Kanzas  Indians. 

th  America      Th(fl|s'^'**'^  being  along  the  whole  route,  going  aiiii  cumirig,  sutticient  for  the  support  of  the  horses 

lolo  of  that  ridire  o'lF^"''''''     The?usual  weight  in  the  waf^ons  was  about  one  thousand  eight  hundred  pounds. 

^^^hc  usual  progress  of  the  wa^;ons  was  about  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  per  day  ;  the  country  being 

rorrinn  in  A .««mnaaiiBt  all  opcu,  lovcl,  aiid  praiiie.  'i'he  ehiet  obstructions  were  ravines  and  creeks,  the  banks 
region  m  /vnienco   •jt .  .  •     ,  •        i  i   r      .i  •  /•  .     i       i     i>  .i 

atitudo  gold  wash  W"*^''  ""equned  culling  down,  and  for  this  purpose  a  few  pioneers  were  sent  ahead  of  the 

it  the  farther  nortL**^'*'"  '"  ^^'^  ^"^''*  ^'"'*'  ^'^"'^  wagons  ever  went  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and  the  ease  and  safety 
ns  finullv  drove  th^^'"*^'^  ^^  ^'"*  done,  prove  the  fiicility  of  communications  overland  to  the  Pacilic  ocean.  The 
)  have  been  amonrfa  '•"""'  '''*  Sonlhern  pass,  where  the  wagons  stopped,  to  the  great  falls  of  the  Columbia,  being 
ihc  statement  tha^W  ""''  belter  than  on  this  side  of  the  mountains,  with  grass  enough  for  horses  and  mules,  but 
mines.     This  rich*f  "^y  of  game  for  the  support  of  men." 

regon  1  errntory,  Mave  now  detained  the  meeting  longer  than  T  at  first  intended,  and  will  conclude  my  remarks, 
in  largo  quantities,  j|pgg  ^^^^^  j  „,j^y  ]^^^q  tJio  pleasure  of  hearing  the  views  of  others  on  this  subject,  as  well  for 

net  the  occupation  of  ihe  Oregon,  if  any  shall  be  found  who  are  opposed  to  it. 
is  time,  to  give  anj^ 

un;  but  some  idea  h 


i 


18    • 

[NOTE  C] 

JteuluHotu,  and  a  JDeelaratien,  adopted  unanimoualy  by  a  Convention  of  Delegate*  from  tk 
Statet  and  Territoriea  of  the  We»t  and  Southvteit,  held  in  the  City  of  CiHOiHirATi,  on  th\ 
3d,  4th,  and  5th  day  of  July,  1843. 

Eetolved,  That  the  right  of  the  United  S^Atea  to  the  Orioow  Tkrritort,  from  forty4«d| 
to  fifty-fpur  degrees  forty  minutes  north  latitude,  is  unquestioned,  and  that  it  is  the  imperatiil 
duty  of  the  General  Government  forthwith  to  extend  the  laws  of  the  United  States  over  sayi 
Territory. 

RetolveH  further.  That  to  encourage  emigration  to,  and  the  permanent  and  secure  aettlemecl 
of,  said  Territory,  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  ought  to  establish  a  line  of  forts  from  tl;|^ 
Missouri  river  to  the  Pacific  ocean ;  and  provide  also  a  suflScient  naval  force  for  the  protection  ( 
the  Territory  and  its  citizens. 

Beiol'oed,  That  for  the  purpose  of  making  known  the  causes  and  principles  of  our  aotion,  tb 
following  declaration  is  unanimously  adopted,  and  now  signed  by  the  members  of  this  Convention 
with  instructions  to  the  officers  thereof  to  transmit  a  copy  to  the  President  of  the  United  State^|| 
and  to  each  member  of  Congress,  and  elsb  to  the  Executives  of  the  several  States,  with  a  reque'tj 
to  present  them  to  their  respective  Legislatures. 


11! 

!  uV 


ifr? 


K* 


''111 


•  DECLARATION  OP  THE  OREGON  CONVENTION. 

A  Declaration  of  the  Citizent  of  the  JUitaisaippi  Valley,  in  Convention  aatembled,  at  C\)<{ 
cmji ATI,  July  5,  1843,  for  the  purpoae  of  adopting  aubh  meaaurea  aa  may  induce  the  trl 
mediate  occupation  of  the  Oregon  Territory,  by  the  arma  and  laiva  of  the  United  States  ? 
^orth  America. 

We,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  do  hereby  declare  to  our  fellow-citizcii 
of  the  whole  Republic,  that  in  urging  forward  measures  for  the  immediate  occupation  of  tl| 
Or«gon  Territoiy,  and  the  northwest  coast  of  the  Pacific,  from  forty-two  to  fifly-four  degr 
forty  minutes  north  latitude,  we  are  but  performing  a  duty  to  ourselves,  to  the  Republic,  to 
commercial  nations  of  the  world,  to  posterity,  and  to  the  people  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  nc| 
as  we  believe,  to  be  benefited  by  the  further  extension  of  her  empire. 

Duty  to  ourselves  requires  that  we  should  urge  the  immediate  occupation  of  Oregon,  not  on 
for  the  increase  and  extension  of  the  West,  but  for  the  security  of  our  peace  and  safety,  perpetual| 
threatened  by  the  savage  tribes  of  the  Northwest.     I'hat  this  duty  is  required  of  us  as  due  to  t!| 
whole  Republic ;  all  parts  of  which  may  not  appreciate,  as  they  seem  not  to  have  appreciated,  tijj 
value  of  the  Territory  in  question,  and  its  political  importance  to  the  honor,  prosperity,  and  pov 
of  th^  Union,  to  say  nothing  of  our  commercial  interests  and  naval  predominance,  threatened! 
they  are  with  injury  or  diminution,  should  the  northeast  coast  of  that  ocean  pass  into  the  po^ 
84&sion  of  a  great  naval  power.     That,  as  an  independent  member  of  the  great  family  of  Nation 
it  is  due  from  us  to  the  whole  commercial  world,  that  the  ports  of  both  coasts  of  this  contineij 
should  be  held  by  a  liberal  Government,  able  and  willing  to  extend  and  facilitate  that  social  ai^ 
commercial  intercourse  which  an  all-wise  Providence  has  made  necessary  for  the  iutellectu 
improvement,  the  social  happiness,  and  the  moral  culture  of  the  human  race. 

That  we  owe  the  entire  uiid  absolute  occupation  of  the  Oregon  to  that  posterity  which,  withoi| 
such  occupation  by  the  citizens  and  free  institutions  of  our  great  Republic,  could  not  perfect! 
make  available  to  themselves  or  to  the  world  the  important  consideration  above  sat  forth. 

That,  however  indignant  at  the  avarice,  pride,  and  ambition  of  Great  Britain,  so  frequent^ 
lawlessly,  and  so  lately  evinced,  wo  yet  believe  that  it  is  for  the  benefit  of  all  civilized  nations  tb 
she  should  fulfil  a  legitimate  destiny,  but  that  she  should  be  checked  in  her  career  of  aggressi 
with  impunity,  and  dominion  loithout  nght. 

That  for  the  independence  and  neutrality  of  the  western  coasts  of  the  American  continen 
and  the  island  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  it  is  important  that  slie  should  be  restrained  in  the  furtL 
extension  of  her  power  on  these  coasts,  and  in  the  middle  and  eastern  portions  of  that  ocean. 

That,  so  far  as  regards  our  rights  to  the  Territory  in  question,  we  are  assured  of  their  pert 
integrity,  based  as  tliey  arc  on  discovery  and  exploration  by  our  own  citizens  and  Governnu': 
and  on  purchase  and  cession  from  those  powers  having  the  prctciico  of  right  to  the  same. 

That  beyond  these  rights  so  perfectly  established,  wc  would  I'eel  compelled  to  retain  the  wli 
Territory,  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Monroe's  universally  approved  dcclanition  of  1823,  that  i. 
Amcriciiii  continents  were  not  thenceforth  to  bo  considered  subjects  lor  future  colonization 
any  foreign  powers. 

influenced  by  those  reasons  and  considerations,  so  important  to  \\n  and  the  whole  Republic,-^ 
liberty  :iiid  juHtice,  and  to  free  Governments,  wc  do  subycrihe  our  uiirucs  to  this  declaration,  w: 
the  fum,  jii.-it,  und  matured  dctcriiiination  never  to  cease  our  cxortiuns  till  its  intentions  and  pn 


teUgatet  from  th 
iHciHirATi,  on  th^ 

T,  from  forty>t«| 
t  u  the  imperatitl 
d  States  over  sail 

d  secure  settlemct 
e  of  forts  from  tl. 
or  the  protection 

of  our  action,  th 
of  this  ConTentioij 

the  United  State^j 
ates,  with  a  reque'iji 


fi. 

aatembted,  at  Cii 
may  induce  the  in 
he  United  States  i 

o  our  fellow-citizcii 
te  occupation  of  tl|j 
to  iifly-four  degre 
the  Republic,  to 
ain  and  Ireland,  nc| 

of  Oregon,  not  on 
id  safety,  perpetual^ 
il  of  us  as  due  to  trj 
lave  appreciated,  tijj 
irospcrity,  and  pov 
nance,  threatened  * 
n  pass  into  the  pc^ 
at  family  of  Natioii^ 
sts  of  this  continel 
ilitate  that  social  ai)! 
for  the  intellectui 

terity  which,  withci| 
,  could  not  perfect  i 
}ve  sat  forth, 
ritain,  so  frequent^ 
civilized  nations  tbt 
career  of  affffrevsi 

Lmerican  continen 
trained  in  the  furtL 
tns  of  that  ocean, 
surcd  of  their  perl^ 
ns  and  Governinei'j 
to  the  same, 
il  to  retain  the  whoj 
m  of  1823,  that  t'| 
turc  colonization 


19 

pies  are  perfected,  and  the  North  American  Republic,  whose  citizens  we  are,  shall  have  estab- 
ished  ita  laws,  its  arms,  and  its  free  institutions,  from  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  te  the  Rocky 

buntains,  throughout  the  limits  above  specified. 

And  we  do  hereby  protest,  as  we  shall  continue  to  piY>test,  against  any  act  or  negotiation, 
ast,  in  process,  or  hereafter  to  be  perfected,  which  shall  yield  possession  of  any  portion  of  the 

me  to  any  foreign  power ;  and  above  all  do  we  remonstrate  against  the  possession  of  any  part 
f  the  northeast  coast  of  the  Pacific  ocean  by  the  power  of  Great  Britain. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  and  passed : 

Resolved,  That  six  Commissioners  be  appointed  by  this  Convention,  whose  duty  it  shall  b« 

urge  upon  Congress,  personally  or  otherwise,  the  resolutions  and  declaration  of  this  Conven- 

ion ;  to  open  a  correspondence  with  the  citizens  of  other  States,  and  endeavor  by  all  means  in 

heir  power  to  obtain  the  favorable  action  of  the  National  Legislature  o  i  a  bill  for  the  immediate 

occupation  of  our  territory  on  the  Pacific,  between  forty<two  and  fifty-four  degrees  forty  minutes, 

north  latitude. 

Commissioners  appointed:  Thomas  Worthington, .  W.  W.  Southgate,  William  Parry,  E.  D. 
ansficld,  S.  Modary,  and  T.  McGuire. 

RICHARD  M.  JOHNSON,  Prerident. 

W.  W.  SoDTHOATK,  Keutucky,        "^  ' 

SaMUM.    MkDABT,        Ohio,  I  ir*         n         -j      . 

W.B.EWIHO,     .     Iowa  Territory,  r'"  ^''^*'*'""- 
JoBK  Kaki,  Indiana,  J 

Wiixiix  Pabbt,  Secretary.  ^ 


c  whole  Republic,  '-i 
this  declaration,  w 
intentions  and  pr. 


